Monument MPM380 - Site of Colewort Barracks, Old Portsmouth

Site of Colewort Barracks, built c. 1694 and demolished during the early-20th Century when Portsmouth Power Station was extended. Excavations on the site in 1984 revealed a number of features relating to phases of the barracks dating from the 17th-20th century.

Site of the post-medieval Colewort Barracks. The main barrack building was built c. 1694, and the barrack complex was demolished in the early-20th Century when Portsmouth Power Station was extended. [1]

A section of wall in Gunwharf Road and St George's Road dating to c.1900 may have been a boundary wall to the barracks site (see MPM1455). [2]

Rescue excavations following the demolition of the Power Station in 1984 revealed the remains of the footings of the east wall of the late 17th Century main barrack building, and layers of gravel which related to the resurfacing of the barrack square. A layer of brick rubble was observed across the site, which related to the demolition of the barracks in the early 20th Century. A number of other features relating to phases of the barracks from the late 17th to the early 20th Century were also recorded. These included a brick lined well, brick-built reservior and a complex of drainage channels/pipes. [1]

Early 17th century burials (MPM1222), evidence of 17th-18th century occupation (MPM1223), and four sherds of medieval coarseware pottery (MPM2143) were also encountered during the excavations on the site.

The excavation archive is held by Portsmouth Museum Service under the Accession number 1984/105.

Fox, Russ, 1984, Post-Medieval occupation (Power Station) (Excavation archive). SPM18.

<1> Hampshire County Council, 1986, Archaeology in Hampshire Annual Report for 1984-1985 (Bibliographic reference). SPM194.

<2> Portsmouth City Council, 2011, City of Portsmouth Local List of Buildings (Bibliographic reference). SPM37.