EDO5153 - The former Abbey Primary School, Horsecastles, Sherborne; Evaluation Trench 3

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation on land at the former Abbey School, Horsecastles, Sherborne during October 2003 in advance of proposed development. This comprised the machine excavation of five trenches, totalling 55m in length and 1.6m wide. The work identified a series of drainage ditches in the SE portion of the site that were in use from the early medieval period until the 13th century, at which time the medieval town was expanding into the Horsecastles area. Only modern features were visible elsewhere and the NE part of the site may have been truncated and levelled for the construction of the playing field. Trench 3 measured 8 x 1.6m in plan and was aligned approximately NE-SW in the SE corner of the site. Natural subsoil was revealed at a depth of 0.70m, below topsoil and ploughsoil. Two probable ditches and a post-hole were recorded. Ditches [F307] & [F305] both contained medieval pottery and animal bone in their fills and were aligned approximately NW-SE. Post-hole [F303] was only partially revealed within the trench and contained no finds.