Monument MPM1677 - Former Inner Moat Wall, north of Beeston's Bastion

The remains of several sections of the former moat wall to the post-medieval Portsmouth town defences were revealed during excavations at Gunwharf in 1997. This section of the inner moat wall would have been adjacent to the north wall of Beeston's Bastion, although no evidence of the latter had survived.The wall was observed 95cms below the modern ground surface and exposed to a depth of 2.58m on its south side, and 2.90m on its north side. It was made up of eight courses of stonework, varying between 23cms and 39cms in thickness. The wall was 1.54m thick at the top and 1.7m thick at the greatest depth excavated. The facing stones had been robbed from the north side.

The remains of a possible buttress survived to the rear of the wall. This feature was the same height as the moat wall and measured 1.9m in length.

The town defences were demolished during the 1870s.

The Conservation Practice, 1997, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, An Archaeological Evaluation. Part Two: Site Investigation (Unpublished document). SPM326.