Governor's Green, Portsmouth, Hampshire - Archaeological Evaluation Report

Wessex Archaeology

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’ at Governor’s Green in Portsmouth to investigate the remains of a 13th century medieval hospital known as ‘Domus Dei’ and the remains of the 16th century Governor’s House that replaced the hospital. All the buildings within the complex except for the church were demolished in 1826. The church, now the Royal Garrison Church, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM
138).

The evaluation demonstrated that the 13th century buildings of the Domus Dei hospital had been heavily truncated and reused during the remodelling of the hospital complex into the Governor’s House. The remains of a medieval floor had been reused within the 16th century rebuild, as had much of the useable stonework from
the medieval buildings. The main enclosure wall of the medieval hospital complex did survive to some extent, but it had also been replaced in the 16th century. The remains of the road which had bordered the complex were observed as a metalled surface.

Following the demolition of the Governor’s House in 1826, the Site was used as a military parade ground, and the remains of this were revealed as a compact metalled surface.