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| HER Number: | MSH2650 |
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| Type of Record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Lower Canal Walk - Part of the Town Ditch |
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| Grid Reference: | SU 4211 1105 |
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| Map: | Show location on Streetmap |
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Summary
In 2003, a trench was excavated in Lower Canal Walk, immediately east of the Friary Reredorter on the town walls (SOU 1263). The bottom of the medieval town ditch was located. Environmental analysis of waterlogged deposits in the base indicated that it had been open to the sea at least once. The ditch seems to have been marshy. The ditch was infilled in the late 17th and 18th centuries. The absence of deposits pre-dating the late 17th century suggests that the ditch was scoured at that time. (See parent record MSH1085 for further details about this part of the town ditch.)
Protected Status: None recorded
Other Statuses/Codes: None Recorded
Monument Type(s):
Full description
SOU 1263 (evaluation excavation with environmental sampling in 2003):
[1][2]: The bottom of the medieval town ditch was located at a depth of 3.4m below ground level at 0.06m OD. It cut natural river terrace gravel. The lower ditch fills comprised a sequence of waterlogged deposits overlaid by an intermittently anaerobic deposit. Environmental analysis of the waterlogged deposits indicated that the ditch had been open to the sea at least once. The ditch seems to have been marshy but with no open water. It seems likely the ditch was cut off from the sea some time in the late 17th century. The ditch was infilled from the late 17th century into the 18th century. The lowest ditch fill above the waterlogged and anaerobic deposits contained a pottery assemblage dating almost entirely to the 1680s/1690s as well as a large amount of limestone rubble, reflecting a period of infilling of the ditch, dumped from the town wall side. The absence of evidence pre-dating the late 17th century suggests that the ditch was scoured at that time. For this reason, no organic remains associated with the Friary Reredorter, which lay immediately to the west of the trench, were recovered.
Sources / Further Reading
| [1] | SSH2408 - Archaeological Report: T Molloy. 2004. Summary report on an archaeological evaluation at Trimwise Health Club, Briton Street, Southampton.. SOU 1263. |
| [2] | SSH2496 - Archaeological Report: S Priestley and T Molloy. 2006. Report on the Archaeological Programme of Works at No 39 Lower Canal Walk, Southampton SU 4215 1106 (SOU 1260) and at the site of the former Trimwise Health Club SU 4211 1105 (SOU 1263).. SOU 1260 & S |
Associated Finds: None recorded
Associated Events
- ESH1503 - Evaluation and Excavation at Trimwise Health Club, Briton Street (Lower Canal Walk) in 2003 (Ref: SOU 1263)
Related records
| MSH1085 | Child of: Town Defences - the town ditch north of God's House Tower |
Associated Links: None recorded
If you have any feedback or new information about this record, please email the Southampton HER (her@southampton.gov.uk).
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