EDO5143 - Former Saunder’s Garage, Digby Road, Sherborne; Evaluation Trench 3

Niall Oakey conducted an archaeological evaluation at the former Saunder’s Garage, Digby Road, Sherborne during 2002 in advance of proposals for a residential development on the site. The evaluation consisted of the excavation of four trenches measuring 4m x 1.5m, located in areas likely to be effected by the development. No material earlier than the 13th century was recovered and all medieval artefacts were recovered from residual contexts. Much of the site was occupied by late 19th century converted stables, the construction of which appears to have truncated earlier features. The earliest documented structure on the site was the parish workhouse, in use from the late 18th to the early 19th century and demolished by the late 1860’s. partially robbed wall foundations of one wing of this building were revealed at a depth of 0.81m. Other features included a thick layer of topsoil (0.5-0.8m) over much of the site suggesting a long period of agricultural or horticultural use; and a functioning late 19th century stone culvert in Trench 2. there was also extensive disturbance from 20th century buildings a services up to 1.2m deep in places. Trench 3 was located towards the south-eastern end of the workshop building. Mechanical excavation exposed natural gravel across the whole base of the trench at a depth of 1,40m below the modern floor surface. This gravel was overlain by a loose cultivation soil containing post-medieval pottery. This soil was overlain by modern demolition rubble which formed the base for a concrete floor.