EDO4164 - Eldridge Pope Brewery Site, Dorchester; desk-based assessment 2004

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned, in July 2004, by Brewery Square Ltd to undertake an archaeological impact assessment of the former Eldridge Pope Brewery site in Dorchester. The archaeological potential, existing impacts and development proposals are considered on an area by area basis for the site, drawing on the geotechnical and topographical survey data to help interpret the effect of past landuse on the archaeological resource. The site is divided into four broad areas: the Weymouth Avenue frontage, the former station area, the central and northern area and the southern boundary. The assessment concludes that the construction of the railway has probably resulted in the truncation of natural deposits in this area and considerable build up of modern Made Ground (up to 3.3m). The central part of the site appears to have been substantially remodelled, prior to the construction of the Brewery, resulting in significant potential impacts in the central area. However, there is some indication that the very northern boundary of the site has been subject to less disturbance, and could contain intact pre-brewery soils. The southern and western part of the site would also appear to have been disturbed, though the extent of the disturbance is less certain. It is only along Weymouth Avenue that the geotechnical survey recorded deposits that might reasonably be interpreted as being of archaeological origin. Past development of this area may well have left areas of relatively undisturbed archaeology.