EDO4918 - Rear of 43/45 High Street, Christchurch; evaluation (Trench 2)

AC Archaeology were commissioned by the landowner, Mr Bassage, to conduct a desk-based assessment and archaeological evaluation on land at the rear of 43/45 High Street, Christchurch, in advance of proposed residential development. The evaluation, by means of three machine dug trenches took place in July 1995. One of the trenches contained no archaeological finds or in situ deposits, and the area seems to have been terraced or severly truncated in recent times. Two medieval features were recorded, one in each of the other two trenches: a possible linear ditch over 1.5m wide, a shallow pit 0.6m in diameter. Both contained 13th-14th century pottery but their function is unclear. The trenches were each located to lie within the footprint of the proposed buildings. Trench 2 measured 10m x 1.0m, was oriented NW-SE, and was excavated to a depth of 0.8m. At the southern end of the trench a probable linear ditch, aligned WNW-ESE, over 1.50m wide and extending beyond the southern end of the trench, was recorded. It is likely to be c. 3.0m wide overall, with a slightly curved base. The grey-brown sandy silt fill contained a single sherd of medieval pottery, tile, oyster shell and animal bone. Its depth could not be determined.