Monument MPM403 - Glacis, Fort Cumberland

A deposit thought to be part of the glacis to Fort Cumberland was recorded during a watching brief at the Southern Water Compound, Fort Cumberland in 2006. A brick dating to the 18th century or earlier and one piece of animal bone were recovered. The deposit was cut by a ditch dating to the 18th Century or later.

A deposit thought to be part of the glacis to Fort Cumberland was recorded during a watching brief by Wessex Archaeology at the Southern Water Compound, Fort Cumberland, in 2006.

Trench 1 revealed the earliest deposit. This consisted of sharp sand, containing rare fragments of bricks, a complete brick (18th century or earlier) and a piece of animal bone. The deposit was thought to be part of the glacis of Fort Cumberland, and was cut by an infilled ditch dating to the 18th century or later. The ditch was sealed by a yellow brown sand, overlain by what was thought to be a buried topsoil. Terram sheeting had been laid over the topsoil and a modern underground concrete structure in the late 20th or early 21st century. This was covered by modern made ground, overlain by topsoil.

The earliest deposit in Trench 2 was a light yellowish brown sand with rare fragments of ceramic building material. This ground, probably redeposited sands and gravels from the shore, was covered with Terram sheeting. The sheeting was covered with a deposit of brownish grey sand with abundant rubble fragments, which was in turn covered with topsoil.

The only finds were brick fragments, a complete 18th century brick, piece of animal bone, and fragments of ceramic building material.

Wessex Archaeology, Archaeological Watching Brief, 2006 'New Radar Mast, Fort Cumberland, Fort Cumberland Road, Eastney, Southsea, Hampshire'

Portsmouth Museum Accession No: 2006/1587

Wessex Archaeology, 2006, New Radar Mast, Fort Cumberland, Fort Cumberland Road, Eastney, Southsea, Hampshire, Archaeological Watching Brief, 2006/1587 (Unpublished document). SPM45.