Monument MPM1919 - Stone walls, Kings Mill

Remains of two stone walls to the wheel pits and sluices located under the Kings Mill observed during a watching brief at Gunwharf Quays in 2002.

Two stone walls belonging to the wheel pits and sluices located under the Kings Mill (MPM1013) were exposed during a watching brief at Gunwharf Quays in 2002. The sluices regulated the flow of water to the waterwheels that powered the mill.

One of the walls was 1.4m wide and was in poor condition. The second wall was located 2.7m north-east of the first and ran parallel to it. At its south-eastern end was a solid brick square which measured1.58m across.

The actual area of the sluices and wheelpits was not observed during the watching brief. A partial record was made of one of the wheel pits during test pitting prior to the watching brief. This found that the inner faces of the pit had dressed stone work. An area of damaged brickwork at the east end may have related to a repair or alteration.

The remains of abutments to the sluices were recorded during an archaeological evaluation in 1997 (see MPM1685).

Barge, Melanie, 2002, Canalside Blocks Gunwharf Portsmouth: Report on the Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document).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