Monument MPM170 - 102 Kingston Crescent

An exploratory excavation on the site of 102 Kingston Crescent revealed the first physical evidence of Saxon occupation on Portsea Island. Traces of three phases of occupation were found: Late Saxon/Early Norman (11th century); 13th/14th century; late 17th-20th century. Finds included Saxon/Medieval and Post-Medieval pottery and Post-Medieval glass wine bottles and clay pipes. The only features dated to the Post-Medieval period and comprised pits, a drainage gulley and numerous post holes which formed no significant pattern.

Exploratory excavation by Portsmouth Museum Service in 1977 on the site of 102 Kingston Crescent. The work revealed the first physical evidence of Saxon occupation on Portsea Island.

A 19th century house and garden which formerly occupied the site had been demolished before work commenced. An area approximately 60sq metres was excavated over the rear part of the house foundations and northern part of the garden. The uppermost level contained pottery and clay pipes dating from the late 18th century onwards. This had been mixed together by considerable horticultural activity.

Material dating to the late 17th/early 18th century was dominated by local coarse earthenwares, with fragments of glass wine bottles and a large quantity of clay pipes (the earliest dating to c.1650). The later 18th century material contained quantities of creamware, pearlwares and coarse local earthenwares, together with several clay pipes. 19th century material comprised printed transfer wares, mochas and local earthenwares.

The only archaeological features dated to the phase of occupation from the late 17th century to the present day, the majority of activity dating to the 19th century. Features comprised pits, a drainage gulley and numerous post holes, which formed no significant pattern.

A thin level of clayey soil lying over brickearth contained 58 sherds of 13th and 14th century pottery. These included fragments of jugs and cooking pots in typical local fabrics and forms, as recovered during the Oyster Street and High Street excavations. The number of sherds suggests that there must have been some Medieval settlement in the near vicinity. However the lack of typical excavation features, such as pits and post holes, indicates that the site did not fall directly in the area of Medieval activity.

Ten sherds of gritty earthenware were mixed into the upper surface of the brickearth, representing the first activity in the area. Three of these were identified as fragments of Portchester Ware Cooking Pot, dating to Late Saxon/early Saxon Norman period.

The excavation vindicated documentary evidence, suggesting that the Medieval settlement was in the area of this junction (although not directly in the area excavated). It was thought extremely likely that the Saxon/Saxon Norman evidence represents the start of continous occupation in the area of Kingston which carries through to the present day.

Accession number 1977/735.

Portsmouth Museum Service, 1977?, Archaeological Excavations at Kingston Crescent Portsmouth 1977 (Excavation archive). SPM60.

Portsmouth City Council, n/a, Portsmouth City SMR Cards, SU60SW14 (Index). SPM1.