2-8 Queensway, Southampton. Archaeological Evaluation (SOU1648) (OASIS ID: wessexar1-170329)

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Hampshire and Regional Property Group Ltd on behalf of PMC Construction and Development Services Ltd to undertake a programme of archaeological trial trenching at 2-8 Queensway, Southampton, Hampshire, centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) 442206 111158. The works were required as a planning condition in advance of the demolition of the existing buildings, including a nightclub, and the development of residential accommodation. The evaluation consisted of four trenches measuring 8m x 1.8m, all of which contained modern and post-medieval deposits beneath a modern concrete layer. A fifth trench had already been excavated and reported on during investigation of the adjacent 10-12 Queensway site. Natural clay geology was found at a depth of 1.40m below the current ground surface in three of the trenches, whilst the fourth noted heavy truncation and made-ground deposits. The fieldwork was carried out between 20th and 21st January 2014. The evaluation identified no evidence for archaeological remains within the areas investigated on the Site. A very small assemblage of post-medieval finds, as well as a single medieval pottery sherd, were recovered from the made-ground deposits, none of which were retained. This absence of evidence is likely to reflect the high level of post-medieval truncation recorded across the Site.