Monument MPM1956 - Moat Wall, Gunwharf

Sections of the moat wall to the Portsmouth town line of defences were observed during the redevelopment of the Gunwharf Quays site 1998-1999. The wall had a stone rubble core and appeared to have been built on a timber lattice. The outer wall had been constructed of dressed stone blocks with foundations of roughly squared timber piles sharpened to a point.

A small section of the northern end of the inner moat wall was recorded. This was thought to have been built on a timber lattice as a thick plank of wood with mortices cut for lap joints was found nearby. The outer moat wall was encountered 0.5m below the ground surface. It continued straight down for another 2m then stepped out by 0.3m before continuing. The wall had a stone rubble core and was constructed of dressed stone blocks. The foundations comprised roughly squared timber piles which had been sharpened to a point at one end and were flat at the other. [1]

A 10m long section of the outer western wall of the moat survived to a height of 1.5m above the water table close to the southern boundary of New Gunwharf. The top of the wall had been truncated by later development on the site. [2]

A section of the eastern moat wall was observed 0.8m below the ground surface in services trenches excavated through the entrance to the South Gate. The surviving wall measured 1.2m high x 1.7m wide and had a dressed stone face. [2]

<1> Gifford and Partners, 1999, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth: Interim Report on Archaeological Watching brief (Unpublished document). SPM552.

<2> Gifford and Partners, 2000, Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth Results of the Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SPM550.