EDO231 - Grammar School Lane, Wimborne Minster; observations and recording 1985

Observations carried out during the final phase of development of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School site, within the area of a proposed monastic circuit. Foundation trenches were excavated to depths between 0.9m and 1.8m, and revealed dark soil to depths between 0.5m and 0.8m. This soil was observed over most of the site, and lay directly on brown river terrace gravel. Brick footings were observed in the northern-most trench. Four pits were recorded over the site. The largest of these, in the centre of the site, had a diameter of at least 4m. The filling of the pit was a fine black soil containing oyster shell, bone, charcoal, and one piece of late medieval roof tile. Two other pits were similar, though smaller. The fourth pit, in the south-western corner of the site, was at least 1.6m in diameter and dug at least 1m into the gravel. The filling of this pit consisted of a brown gravelly soil with charcoal and bone. Early medieval features had been encountered to the west of this site, but were not observed here. The accumulation of dark soil was thought possibly to result from the tipping of night soil from the later medieval period onwards. The lack of evidence for medieval structures was interpreted as meaning that the area was situated well behind the principal street frontage.