Monument MPM50 - Eastney Fort West

Fort built between 1862 and 1867 which formed part of the Eastney Barracks complex until the early-1990s. Restored in 1995-97 as part of the re-development of the whole site now known as Marine Gate. The interior of the fort is laid out as a private garden for residents. The fort was a rebuild of an early-19th century defensive work.

Mid-19th century rebuild of an early-19th century work forming part of the Eastney Barracks complex until the early 1990s. Built between 1862 and 1867. The remaining work was restored in 1995-97 as part of the re-development of the whole site which is now known as Marine Gate. The interior is laid out as a private garden for residents of Teapot Row and Crinoline Gardens. [1, 2]

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An archaeological assessment in 1994 recorded the following:

Trenches 1-3 cut through an area of parade ground mainly to the eastern side of the interior of the fort. Upper level of topsoil contained shrub, plant and grass roots with scattered gravel in lower few centimetres. What was thought to have been a narrow compacted chalk levelling layer beneath the topsoil appeared to have originally been covered by a gravel layer interpreted as the surface of the 19th and 20th century parade ground. This gravel layer had later been disturbed by digging/turning over of the topsoil resulting in gravel being moved into the upper layer.

Trenches 1 and 2 extended onto the embanked terreplein (top of rampart), cutting into the feature by no more than 0.30m. The stratigraphy showed that the terreplein was built up using gravelly soil, with a chalk capping, topped by a gravel layer. Evidence of horticultural activity was again indicated by a layer of topsoil with a gravel content.

Trenches 4 and 5 revealed much of the same stratification as 1-3 at parade ground level and on to the terreplein. More modern disruption appeared to have taken place in this section, although this was generally superficial. A section of the banquette (raised step) must have been removed post-1906, and the ground subsequently reduced to main parade level.

[3]

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A report produced in 1995 by Hyland Edgar Driver outlining proposals for restoration/landscape works is held within the Portsmouth Museum Service collection under the accession no: 2025/22. This includes a very brief history of the site, a description of the various elements of the fort as it was at the time the report was produced, proposals for a landscape-based restoration, photocopies of various drawings/plans revised in 1906 and c.19th and 20th century photographs of the site. [4]

<1> Portsmouth City Council, n/a, Portsmouth City SMR Cards (Index). SPM1.

<2> English Heritage, ?, SAM/CNSR System (Index). SPM379.

<3> Fox, Russ, 1994, Portsmouth - Eastney Fort West, Archaeology In Hampshire Annual Report for 1993 p39-40 (Bibliographic reference). SPM56.

<4> Hyland Edgar Driver, 1995, Eastney Fort West: A report on the existing situation and proposals for restoration/landscape works and future use (Unpublished document). SPM665.