Monument MPM2040 - Pits, south-east of Laying Out Shed, Fort Cumberland

Two pits excavated during a watching brief at Fort Cumberland in 2021/02 near the south-eastern corner of the Laying Out Shed. The pits were side by side, one circular and one rectangular. The function and date of the pits could not be ascertained. However, it was thought that they cut through an early 20th century demolition layer, suggesting they are of a later date.

Two pits were excavated during a watching brief at Fort Cumberland in 2021/02. The features were located 1-2m from the south-eastern corner of the Laying Out Shed inside the fort.

The pits were side by side. The northern pit was circular with a 0.66m diameter. The southern pit was rectangular and measured 0.55m x 0.54m. The fill of both pits consisted of a dark greyish brown sandy fill with numerous gravel fragments. No finds were recovered.

The pits had cut through an upper level of sandy gravel which was thought to be beach gravel used to build up the parade ground. Beneath this was a 0.07m thick layer of mortar containing brick fragments, which may have been a layer of demolition debris. Beneath this was a fairly deep layer of mixed grey sandy gravel (>0.25m).

The mortar and brick layer was thought to represent the demolition of a rectangular building shown occupying part of the site of the Laying Out Shed on an 1886 plan of the fort which was demolished in the early 20th century. A row of four single-story barrack blocks constructed from breeze-blocks with sheet-metal roofs were then built on the site and were later rebuilt in brick after they were damaged in a Second World War bombing raid in 1940. The Laying Out Shed is the only one of these structures to have survived storm damage in 1987 and 1990.

It has therefore been suggested that the pits post date the demolition of the rectangular building in the early 20th century, but a more precise date could not be ascertained. No structures/features were recorded as being shown on the site of the pits in archive photographs of the fort.

Fellows, David, 2002, Report on the excavations resulting from improvements to the paths and lighting at Fort Cumberland (Bibliographic reference). SPM613.