Milldam Nursery, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth

 

Wessex Archaeology  Millda Mill dam m Nu Nurs rser ery y Bur urna naby by Ro Road ad,, Por orts tsm mou outh th  Archa  Ar chaeo eolo logic gical al Watc Watchi hing ng Br Brief  ief 

Ref: Re f: 71 7122 220.0 0.01 1

September 2009

 

MILLDAM DAM NURSERY NURSERY MILL BURNABY ROAD PORTSMOUTH HAMPSHIRE  ARCHAEOL OGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

Prepared for: Peter Pe ter Gallow ay Burgan House 8/10 East Street Havant Hampshire PO9 1AQ

by Wessex We ssex A rchaeology Portway House Old Sarum Park Salisbury Wiltshire SP4 6EB

Ref. 71220.03

September 2009

© Wessex Archaeology Limited 2009 all rights reserved Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No. 287786

 

Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

MILLDAM NURSERY BURNABY ROAD PORTSMOUTH HAMPSHIRE  ARCHAEOL OGICAL WATCHING BRIEF

Contents 1

2

3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

INTRODUCT INTROD UCTION ION ... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ .......1 ...1 1.1 Proj Project ect Back Backgrou ground nd ....... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ................ .........1 .1 1.2 Loca Location, tion, topo topograp graphy hy and geol geology ogy ........ ............... ............... ................ ............... ............... ............... ...............1 ........1 ARCHAE ARC HAEOLOG OLOGIC ICAL AL AND AND HI HIST STOR ORIC ICAL AL BACKGR BACKGROU OUND ND ... ..... .... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ....1 .1 2.1 Preh Prehisto istoric ric and Roma Romano-B no-Britis ritish h activi activity.............. ty..................... ............... ............... ............... ............... ..........1 ...1 2.2 Medi Medieval eval ....... ............... ............... ............... ................ ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ...........2 ...2 2.3 Post Post-med -medieva ieval.............. l..................... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............2 ....2 2.4 Heri Heritage tage Desi Designati gnations ons ........ ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............2 .....2 AIMS & OBJECTI OBJECTIVES VES ... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ......2 ..2 3.1 Arch Archaeol aeologic ogical al Watchi Watching ng Brief... Brief.......... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... .............2 .....2 3.2 Meth Methodol odology ogy ....... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... .............2 .....2 RESULTS RES ULTS .... ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ......3 ...3 FINDS ... FINDS ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ .....3 .3 ENVIRO ENV IRONME NMENTAL NTAL .... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ......3 ..3 CONCLUS CON CLUSION.. ION...... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... .....3 .3 ARCHIVE.. ARCH IVE..... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ......4 ..4 8.1 Prep Preparat aration ion and Depo Depositio sition n ....... ............... ............... ............... ............... ............... ................ ............... ............... ............4 ....4 REFER REF ERENC ENCES ES .... ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ....... ....... ........ ........ ......4 ..4 APPENDIX APPEN DIX 1 – 1M REPRESE REPRESENTATI NTATIVE VE SECTION..... SECTION........ ....... ........ ....... ....... ........ ....... ....... ........ ....... ......5 ...5

Figure 1 Plate 1 Plate 2

Site location showi ng are area a of watching brief Site viewed fro m the west Typic al soi l sequence

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Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

MILLDAM NURSERY BURNABY ROAD PORTSMOUTH HAMPSHIRE  ARCHAEOL OGICAL WATCHING BRIEF Summary Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Peter Galloway Architects, to undertake an archaeological watching brief during ground investigation works on land at the Milldam Nursery, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, centred on NGR 463550 100250. The watching brief was required as part of the planning permission granted by Portsmouth City Council (Planning reference 08/01658/FUL), the local authority, for the construction of a part single-storey and part 3-storey extension with associated external alterations. Following clearance of the site a watching brief was maintained during site excavations covering an area measuring approximately 6.5m in width by 17m in length and 0.9m in depth. No archaeological features or deposits were observed in the area which was made up of numerous layers of 19th and 20th century overburden overburden.. Monitoring groundworks was undertaken by Wessex Archaeology between the 25th August of and 7th September 2009.

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Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

MILLDAM NURSERY BURNABY ROAD PORTSMOUTH HAMPSHIRE  AN A RCHAEOLOGICA RCHAEOLOGICAL L WA TCHING BRIEF  Ac kn ow led ledgem gement ents s Wessex Archaeology would like to thank Peter Galloway Architects for commissioning this project. Gary Francis and John Young of Norman Wright Construction are also thanked for their help during the fieldwork. The fieldwork was conducted by Matt Rous AIFA, who also compiled this report. The report illustrations were prepared by Ken Lymer. The project was managed on behalf of Wessex Archaeology by Sue Farr MIFA.

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Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

MILLDAM NURSERY BURNABY ROAD PORTSMOUTH HAMPSHIRE  AN A RCHAEOLOGICA RCHAEOLOGICAL L WA TCHING BRIEF

1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 1. 1

Project Background

1.1.1

Wessex Archaeolog Archaeology y was commissione commissioned d by Peter Galloway Architects (the Client), to undertake an archaeological watching brief during groundworks on land at the Milldam Nursery, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire (hereafter ‘the Site’) (Figure ( Figure 1). 1). The works were undertaken to the south of the existing Seymour Terrace, which is a Grade II listed building, and is centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) 463550 100250.

1.1.2

The watching brief was required as part of the planning permission granted to Peter Galloway Architects by Portsmourth City Council (Planning Reference 08/01658/FUL), for the redevelopment of the Site comprising the construction of a part single-storey and part 3-storey extension with associated external alterations.

1.1.3

A Written Scheme of Investigation (Wessex Archaeolog Archaeology y 2009) was prepared in advance of the watching brief and approved by Portsmouth City Council. It set out in detail the methodologies and standards proposed by Wessex Archaeology to undertake the archaeological work.

1.2 1. 2

Location, topog raphy and geology

1.2.1

The Site comprises an area of c. 0.1 hectares and is situated to the northwest of Milldam quadrangle, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth (Figure (Figure 1). 1). An existing single-storey temporary nursery building on the Site was demolished ahead of the development.

1.2.2

The Site lies at approxima approximately tely 3.47m above Ordnance Datum (aOD) and slopes down gently from south-north across the Site.

1.2.3

The underlying geology comprises Plateau Gravels (BGS, Sheet 331, Portsmouth & North-east Isle of Wight).

2

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTO HISTORICAL RICAL BA BACKGROUN CKGROUND D

2.1 2. 1

Prehist Pre hist oric and RomanoRomano-Brit Brit ish activity

2.1.1

Although no known prehistoric finds or features are recorded from within the Site itself, Palaeolithic artefacts have been recovered from several sites on Portsea Island including a series of flint tools found during the excavation of a number of 1914-1918 war graves within the cemetery near Milton.

2.1.2

Neolithic and Bronze Age activity is recorded on Portsea Island. Two hoards of bronze artefacts have been found to the north-east of the historic core of the town, near the hospitals of St Mary’s and St James’. In WA Report ref. 71220.03

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Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

addition at least fourteen Iron Age coins have been found on Portsea Island although the find spots are not well recorded. 2.1.3

Although no certain Romano-Bri Romano-British tish settlements are recorded within the historic core of the town, a number of Roman coins have been recovered indicating some activity at this time. To the east on Hayling Island, an Iron  Age and Roman temple site was excavated in the late nineteenth century and re-excavated during the 1970s. However the principle site of Roman activity is to the north-west in the Portsmourth Harbour area. Excavations on the Saxon Shore fort at Portchester have shown the first Roman activity dated from the mid-first century AD.

2.2

Medieval

2.2.1

The Site is positioned on the northern limits of the historic core of the town and, despite the large number of cellared properties in the town, several archaeological excavations have exposed evidence for medieval settlement.

2.2.2

Excavations to the south-west in Highbury Street and in Cathedral Green have revealed the remains of complex urban deposits associated with the development of the medieval and post-medieval town. To the north-west of the town centre, on the site of the power station, excavation encountered nineteen inhumation burials almost certainly associated with

2.3

a former chapel. Post-medieval

2.3.1

The development of Portsmout Portsmouth h in the post-medieval period is inextricabl inextricably y linked with the development of the naval dockyards and its military importance.

2.3.2

To the south of the Site is Southsea Castle. Begun in 1544, it forms part of the Henrician fortifications of the Solent.

2.4

Heritage Designatio ns

2.4.1

There are no Scheduled Monuments recorded on the Site. A Grade II listed building (Portsea Free School, LBS no. 475067) adjoins the Site to the north-east at Seymour Terrace. The Portsea Free School is a mid 19th century red brick building and the proposed nursery will replace a temporary building adjacent to it.

3

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

3.1 3. 1

Archaeological Wa Watchi tchi ng Brief

3.1.1

The principal aim of the watching brief was to provide further information concerning the presence/absence, date, nature and extent of any buried archaeological remains and to investigate and record these within the proposed footprint of the new nursery Site.

3.2

Methodology

3.2.1

The excavations were undertaken using a small 360º mechanical excavator equipped with a toothed bucket and under constant archaeological supervision (Plate (Plate 1). 1). WA Report ref. 71220.03

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Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

3.2.2

The watching brief was maintained throughout the excavations until such time that it was clear the potential for archaeological remains to be exposed had been exhausted. All excavated material was routinely inspected for artefacts

3.2.3

The area was recorded using Wessex Archaeology Archaeology’s ’s pro forma recording forma recording system. A photographic record, which included high resolution digital images, was maintained.

3.2.4

The watching brief was maintained in accordance with the relevant standards and guidance set out in the Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for Archaeologi Archaeological cal Watching Briefs (IfA 2008) and the Written Scheme of Investigation (Wessex Archaeology 2009) approved in advance of the groundworks by Portsmouth City Council.

3.2.5

Monitoring of groundwor groundworks ks was undertaken by Wessex Archaeology th between the 25  August and 7th September 2009.

4

RESULTS

4.1.1

The soil sequence recorded was generally consistent across the development area. Detailed soil descriptions are presented in  Ap pen pendi di x 1, and the typical soil sequence is illustrated in Plate 2. 2.

4.1.2

th A layer layers of tarmacadam recorded to a depth of 0.12mcomprising overlying multiple of modern was ( c. 19 (c.   to 20th century) overburden mixed deposits of silty clay with gravel inclusions.

4.1.3

No archaeolog archaeological ical features or deposits were observed within the excavated area largely due to the relatively shallow depths excavated. The groundworks did not extend below these modern horizons.

5

FINDS

5.1.1

No artefacts were retrieved from the Site.

6

ENVIRONMENTAL

6.1.1

The watching brief did not identify any archaeolo archaeological gical features or deposits and as a consequence no environmental samples were taken.

7

CONCLUSION

7.1.1

The total area excavated during the groundworks was c. 0.1 hectare.

7.1.2

Although no archaeolog archaeological ical features or deposits were identified within the Site this was due to the generally shallow depth of excavations, which did not exceed the 19 th  and 20th century overburden and the relatively small area of the Site excavations.

7.1.3

There remains potential for archaeologi archaeological cal remains to survive beneath the formation levels and modern overburden, however, given no works were required at greater depths, any archaeology within the Site will be preserved in situ beneath situ beneath the extension in line with PPG16 requirements.

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Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

8

ARCHIVE

8.1

Preparation and Deposit Deposition ion

8.1.1

The complete project archive was prepared in accordance with Wessex  Archaeology’s  Archaeology ’s Guidelines for Archive Preparation and in accordance with Guidelines for the preparation of excavation archives for long-term storage (UKIC 1990). On 1990). On completion of the project the archive will be deposited with

8.1.2

the local museum. The resulting archive will be microfiched to the standards accepted by the National Monuments Record (NMR). Two copies will be deposited with the Portsmouth Sites and Monuments Record; a further copy will be deposited with the NMR.

8.1.3

Details of the watching brief will be entered into the online “Oasis” database maintained by the Archaeological Data Service (ADS).

9

REFERENCES British Geological Survey, 1958, Portsmouth 1958, Portsmouth & N.E. Isle of Wight, Wight, Sheet 331 (Drift), 1:50,000 Institute for Archaeologists (2008)  Archaeological  Archaeolog ical Watching Briefs Briefs..

Standards

and

Guidance

for

Wessex Archaeology, 2009,  2009,  Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth, Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief, Ref: 71220.01

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Milldam Nursery, Portsmouth  Archaeological Watching Brief

10

APPENDIX 1 – 1M REPRESENTATIVE SECTION

 Ar ea 1

NGR E (centre point) Width (m)

Length (m) c

.17.00

 

c

463550

.6.50

N

 

100250 Max. Depth – Below Max. Ground L evel (m) c .0.90

Context Number

Soil De Descr scr ipt ion

Depth – Below Ground Level (m)

101 102

Modern tarmacadam. Blue-grey in colour. Compact yellowish-brown clay with gravel (sub-rounded, <5%, <10mm in diameter). Mid-greyish brown silty clay loam with gravel (frequent subrounded - sub-angular gravel, <20%, <25mm in diameter). Light-mid yellowish brown silty clay. Frequent sub-rounded - subangular gravel, <20%, <40mm in diameter, frequent CBM and mortar, occasional charcoal charcoal flecks, clay pipe and blue & white glazed pottery. Rootlets present throughout. Demolition layer Very dark brown silty clay. Frequent charcoal, cinders. Large area of mortar at eastern end.

0 – 0.12 0.13 - 0.14

Mid-yellowish brown sand. Few inclusions. Iron staining at western Mid-yellowish end Very dark brown-black layer of cinders, slag, charcoal with iron and copper. Occasional inclusions of gravel (sub-rounded, <20mmm). Firm yellowish-brown clay with gravel (sub-rounded, <30mm, <25%) Pinkish-yellow layer of sand and crushed CMB with fragments of tile visible Firm yellowish-brown clay with gravel (sub-rounded, <30mm, <25%) (Same as 108)

0.53 - 0.54

103 104

105 106 107

108 109 110

0.15 - 0.36 0.37 - 0.5

0.51 - 0.52

0.55 - 0.63

0.64 - 0.73 0.74 - -0.75 0.76 - 0.9+

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Plate 1: Site viewed from the east

Plate 2: Typical soil sequence

Thismaterial Thismater ial is forclientreportonly © Wes Wessex sex Arc Archaeo haeolog logy.No y.No una unauth uthori orised sed rep reprod roduct uction. ion.

Date:

Wessex   Arch aeol ogy 

Scale: Path:

10/09/09 N/A

Revision Number: Illustrator:

0 KJB

Y:\PROJECTS\71220\Drawing Office\Report Figs\WB\09_09_10

Plates 1-2

 

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