Monument MPM1916 - New Gunwharf Wall

A section of the New Gunwharf wall was uncovered during a watching brief at Gunwharf Quays in 2002. New Gunwharf was constructed to the south of the Mill Pond when the Gunwharf site was expanded between 1797 and 1810. A contemporary plan notes that the section of wall observed in 2002 had been built by 1797. It remained in use until the basin was infilled in the 1920s.

Over 51m of wall was exposed. It had been constructed from large limestone blocks of varying sizes with dressed faces. Rubble blocks, mainly limestone, had been used to construct the core and rear of the wall. The rear had been faced with roughly dressed blocks. The wall was approximately 2m wide at the base and 1.5m wide at the top.

The wall had been constructed on a large timber raft held in place by two parallel rows of vertical planks driven into the underlying clay.

The remains of the fittings for land and fender ties were still present in the upper course of the wall. These consisted of iron straps used to hold the timber fenders in place.

At the eastern end of the wall were the remains of metal fittings used to hold additional timber fenders and possibly a ladder to service small crafts in the basin in place. A small bore cast iron drainpipe with a hinged flap over the opening, used as a non-return valve to drain surface water, was also observed. These fittings had all been cemented into the stonework and dated to the latter part of the walls working life.

A slipway for a boat house situated to the east of the New Gunwharf wall was observed running parallel to and abutting the wall its eastern end.

Barge, Melanie, 2002, Canalside Blocks Gunwharf Portsmouth: Report on the Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SPM519.