Central Station North Quarter, Southampton (SOU1613). Archaeological Watching Brief

A watching brief was carried out by Southampton City Council Archaeology Unit on 73 trial holes excavated in the Central Station North Quarter area in advance of improvements to the area. The purpose of the fieldwork was 'to make a record of the deposits that survive beneath the surface. In addition the nature, dimensions, and relationship of natural deposits will be noted and recorded if revealed' (Garner 2013, 3). The information was to be used to assist Southampton City Council in making an informed decision as to the need for further archaeological work before or during the future works. No traces of the medieval road called the Strand or the historic shoreline along which it ran were exposed although beach deposits were probably present at a greater depth. No trace was seen of the bridge where road crossed the Rollesbrook stream, but one trench was probably in the trench dug to culvert the stream in the area by the bridge. Several trenches were located on the approximate line of the late 18th century Southampton and Salisbury Canal. Those trenches revealed deposits that may have been the 19th century fill of the canal, but no evidence directly relating to the canal construction or use was observed. Several trenches located on Commercial Road and between Commercial Road and Blechynden Terrace revealed structural features and deposits related to 19th century development. Remains of houses, pubs, commercial premises and their gardens survived, in many cases not far from the surface. A number of these properties were bombed during the Second World War and caches of artifacts from the blitz may well be preserved in such areas. A find was kept, together with the site records this forms the archive.