Monument MPM1879 - Remains of the East Ravelin

The remains of the rampart wall, counterscarp wall and moat to the East Ravelin were revealed during an archaeological evaluation in Ravelin Park in 1972. The East Ravelin had formed part of the 18th century line of Portsmouth town defences which were demolished c1860s/1870s. The remains of an earthwork belonging to 17th century defences designed by Bernard de Gomme was also recorded.

A trench was excavated across the area of the moat, counterscarp and the covert way to the former East Ravelin during an archaeological evaluation in Ravelin Park in 1972. The East Ravelin (see MPM34) formed part of the remodelled 18th century Portsmouth town defences designed by Desmaretz, and was demolished post-1860. The ravelin replaced earlier defences constructed by Bernard de Gomme during the 1660s-1680s. The excavation revealed the remains of the rampart wall, counterscarp wall and moat. Evidence of the 17th century defences which preceded the East Ravelin was also recorded.

The rampart wall was encountered 0.3m below ground level. This had been constructed from limestone and was 1.3m thick. The face of the wall was followed to a depth of 4.5m, at which point it was unsafe to excavate any deeper.

Behind the rampart wall was a foundation trench for the wall which had been backfilled with soil and gravel. This had been cut into the remains of a 17th century earthwork made up of layers of gravel and clay. The earthwork was interpreted as the remaining bulk of a 17th century gun platform belonging to the earlier de Gomme town defences, which had been replaced during the 18th century by the East Ravelin.

The moat had been infilled during the 19th century to a depth of 3.5m with a loose clay-soil and gravel mix. Beneath this fill, 3.5m-4.3m below ground level, was a silty deposit rich in organic material which had been deposited when the moat was in use during the 18th and 19th centuries. The base of the moat was made up of a layer of clay. No finds were recovered from the moat's fill.

Beyond the moat were the remains of the counterscarp wall. This was 0.8m thick. The facing masonry had been robbed to a depth of 2m. The trench did not extend far enough to reveal the revetment wall to the rear of the glacis. However, a later resistivity survey located a solid linear feature along the anticipated line of the wall.

Fox, Russ, 1988, East Ravelin (Excavation archive). SPM12.