Monument MPM2137 - Section of limestone wall, east of King's Bastion?

Remains of the 17th century fortifications, including a surviving section of wall, observed during a watching brief in 2023.

Evidence of the 17th century town defences in the form of the remains of levelled/demolished walls and a surviving section of wall were observed in an inspection pit excavated during a watching brief on works for the Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme in 2023. The pit was excavated three times and archaeological remains encountered on each occasion.

A layer of very compact sandy silt containing significant broken limestone rubble observed beneath made ground during two of the excavation attempts may have represented the remains of a wall or the foundations for a wall within the former glacis. At least part of the glacis remained intact beneath the made ground.

A third excavation attempt revealed a surviving section of limestone wall, possibly part of the ravelin, observed running south-west north-east. The wall was situated beneath a layer of made ground containing limestone rubble that was identical to the material used in the surviving section of wall below. This layer was thought to represent a levelled section of the same wall.

Exact location of pit currently unknown.

Kowalska, A, Weinbren, M, Nightingale A, Brennan, N, 2024, Southsea Coastal Defence Scheme SF2 GI Works: Geoarchaeological deposit modelling of geotechnical site investigation data and watching brief report (Unpublished document). SPM651.