In 2006 OA South was appointed to carry out an excavation in advance of the construction of apartment blocks in the town's medieval 'French Quarter'. The site was bounded to the west and east by the historic frontages of French Street and the High Street, where an impressive sequence of medieval vaulted cellars still survived. These were accompanied by numerous pits, cess pits and wells yielding significant finds and environmental assemblages, including rare and exotic items.
When Linden Homes began discussions with Southampton City Council in regard to development of the French Quarter, there was a desire that any new buildings in Southampton’s old town would reinstate the medieval street layout and be in sympathy with the many surviving medieval buildings.
A requirement would also be placed on planning approval for the excavation, analysis and publication of the entirety of the site to the depth of archaeological remains. Given the scale of the subsequent development and the complexity of the archaeological strata revealed, this resulted in the largest excavation yet to take place in the medieval town.
