Old Guard House and Provost Cells Southgate Street Winchester Hampshire

Between 25th November and 4th December 2013, Oxford Archaeology undertook
an archaeological evaluation at the site of former Provost Cells, Southgate Street
Winchester in advance of re-development proposals. Three trenches were
excavated, each of which revealed significant archaeological remains. Two phases
of the defensive bank that formed part of the southern defences of early Roman
Winchester were revealed. The bank overlay a buried soil containing Early-Middle
Iron Age pottery. A metalled surface was contemporary with the earlier bank,
possibly part of an intra-mural street. Pottery from the later bank was dated to AD
120-160. A later metalled surface, probably an intra-mural street and associated
with 10th-12th century pottery, was found to cut into the Roman bank. Flanking its
south side were two posthole/pits, also associated with 10th-12th century pottery
and containing smithing debris, may form part of a contemporary structure. To the
north were two pits of 10th-12th century date and third dated to c 1350-1500. The
archaeological remains in two of the trenches were sealed below a thick
accumulation of post-medieval garden soils which were were cut by two large 19th
century pits.