Monument MPM1784 - Shallow depressions, Goldsmith Avenue

Three shallow depressions observed during an archaeological evaluation at the site of the Lidl store in Goldsmith Avenue. Possibly representing the position of railway sleepers belonging to the former East Southsea Railway line.

Three shallow depressions observed during an archaeological evaluation at the site of the Lidl store in Goldsmith Avenue in 2017. It is thought that the depressions may have represented the former position of railway sleepers set upon a raised track bed, belonging to the former East Southsea Railway line. The 1898 Ordnance Survey map appeared to show that the site lay within the easement/cutting of the railway. If this was the case the depressions would suggest that the track was approximately 1.8m wide and the sleepers spaced about 0.70m apart. The depressions survived in relatively soft, fine gravel natural, suggesting the cutting was infilled immediately after the track and sleepers were removed.

The infill contained fragments of ceramic building material, pottery, clay pipe, glass and an animal bone. The CBM largely consisted of brick waster fragments, with occasional chalk and flint, dating to the 18th or early-19th century. The pottery dated to c1825-1925 and included sherds from jars, a plate, dish, bowl and pipe from a water closet. Two fragments of clay pipe stem (c1750-1900), glass fragments from a 19th century wine bottle, mid-19th century to early-20th century milk bottle and drinking goblet and an adult dog ulna (bone) were also recovered.

Priestley-Bell, Greg, 2017, An Archaeological Evaluation at the Lidl supermarket site, Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Unpublished document). SPM398.