Monument MPM1115 - Brick Chamber/Cellar

A brick chamber was discovered outside nos. 13, 14 and 15 George Court by workmen replacing lamp posts in 2009. Archaeological recording was carried out by Southampton Archaeology Unit, who made observations from a hole in the north-west corner of the chamber. Prior to the Second World War, No. 32 High Street stood close to the site. During the mid-19th century No. 32 was occupied by a naval outfitter, and then a lodging house. From 1871 onwards the premises were in use as a bank. It is possible that the chamber had been used as a coal store, or was associated with the bank which formerely stood on the site. The chamber (cellar 16) had barrel vaulted ceilings, and consisted of two rooms, each with a passageway leading off. It measured more than 1.43m high from the hole in the pavement through which the observations were made, to the top of the rubble inside. There were 15 courses of bricks, indicating the cellar was at least 1.20m high to the springer. The bricks were bonded by lime mortar and had three or four coats of whitewash on the inside. They measured 230m by 110mm by 70mm, which would suggest a mid to late 19th century date. The chamber/cellar had been partially backfilled by a mixture of rubble, brick and soil, which contained a late 19th/20th century horseshoe. The rubble was probably from Second World War bombing. Accession No: 2009/102