Monument MPM1665 - 19th century revetment timbers, Gunwharf

Timbers, railway sleepers and the remains of a sword excavated from two drain chambers during a watching brief at Gunwharf Quays in 2004. The timbers may have been used as supports during the construction of a nearby Victorian sewer.

Three pieces of timber, two railway sleepers and the remains of a sword were recorded during a watching brief at Gunwharf Quays in 2004. The items were recovered during the excavation of two drain chambers.

The timbers measured 1.55m long x 0.3m wide x 0.28m thick, 1.1m long x 0.35m wide x 0.27m thick and 1.55m long x 0.35m wide x 0.27m thick. One of the timbers had a joint hole that measured 12cm x 30cm x 10cm, and was broken at one end. Each, with the exception of the broken end, had been sawn when first used. The saw cuts and marks were circa 19th century in date. The timbers may have been used as revetments during the construction of a nearby Victorian sewer, to support the drainage walls or structure.

The railway sleepers measured 1.6m long x 0.21m wide x 0.17m thick and 2.6m long x 0.3m wide x 0.14m thick. The first sleeper had two rail braces attached. The end had been broken off each sleeper.

The sword hilt was corroded and one third of the blade was still attached. It was probably the remains of an 1880 pattern standard naval cutlass.

Accession No: 2004/809

Beach, & Couling, G, 2004, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth: Results of the Archaeological Watching Brief on Ariadne Phase II (Unpublished document). SPM316.