EDO4503 - High Street, Fordington, Dorchester; casual observation 1839

During the winter of 1838-1839 Fordington High Street was widened between the former pound and a point 75 yards west of the junction with Holloway Road in order to create winter jobs for the poor. This work was sponsored by a subscription started by the Rev. H. Moule [1][2]. Over 50 complete skeletons of adults and children were noted in the chalk at depths of between a few inches and 6 feet and perhaps two cremations, several burials were examined by H. Moule. The cremations consisted of an urn containing burnt human bones and fragments of another said to show evidence of similar use. About 30 of the inhumations were judged from nails with adherent wood to have been enclosed in wooden coffins; about half of the graves were said to have been oriented NE-SW, the rest at a higher level NW-SE, the heads placed indifferently. Two lay face downwards. Finds without particular association included sherds of brown, red and black ware, with one probably of New Forest Ware; hob nails with several burials; a heap of small beach pebbles between the legs of another; an iron knife; and armlet of twisted bronze wires; a bronze buckle on the breast of a skeleton, with traces of leather; a coin of Postumus (259-68). The only other coin was of Constantine I (317-20), from the mouth of a male skeleton by the roadside close to the garden door of the former vicarage. Three female skeletons were examined by H. Moule on the other side of the road opposite the vicarage. The first contained a bead necklace, shale armlet and spindle whorl and ceramic vessels placed on either side of the head (one black, the other red). The second female was under a corbelled stone cairn and she wore a beaded necklace. The thrid female posessed a plain shale armlet and a grooved shale spindle whorl [1].