EDO5240 - Southwest Quadrant, Bridport: earthwork survey 1998

AC archaeology undertook an evaluation of an area of land known as the Southwest Quadrant, Bridport in November 1998. This comprised the excavation of four machine-dug trial trenches and two hand-dug trial trenches and a sketch earthwork survey of an area of former allotments to the northwest of St Mary’s Church. The trenches were positioned to investigate the possible line of the postulated Saxon defences to the east and west of Priory Lane, the possible early routeway and river crossing of the Brit and other earthwork traces. A sketch plot of the earthworks visible in the former allotments to the northwest of St Mary’s Church and east of Priory Lane was made. The area was rough ground, overgrown with nettles at the time of survey. Three prominent linear platforms were visible, defined by shallow depressions. One to the east, immediately north of St Mary’s churchyard was considered to have most potential as a house platform. The central platform, aligned N-S had a narrow linear depression at its northern end, which was cut by evaluation trench 5. The western part of the area was rather more irregular and may be the result of dumping and disturbance, although this was not proved by evaluation trench 2, which was dug along a linear earthwork depression. No dating evidence for these earthworks was found. (1) (2)