EDO5311 - Land to rear of 58 West Street, Corfe Castle; excavation 2005

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Raglan Housing Association Limited to carry out an archaeological excavation in advance of development on land a the rear of 58 West Street, Corfe Castle, Dorset, centred on NGR 3395890 081830. The Site comprised an area of approximately 0.24ha. situated immediately to the rear of 58 West Street and immediately south of West Street car park. At the time of this excavation, the Site comprised a paddock and a private garden. The excavation followed on from an evaluation in 2003 in which three medieval and further undated ditches and post holes were recorded. The proposed development would impact on any archaeological remains, and it was decided by the Local Planning Authority, acting on advice from the County Archaeological Officer, that archaeological excavation should be undertaken to mitigate this impact. The excavation was undertaken in April and May 2004 comprising a rectangular area measuring approximately 35m x 20m. Two ditches of medieval date were identified and excavated. These ditches had already been recorded by the evaluation, although the larger area opened for the excavation allowed the ditches to be more fully examined and recorded. In addition a number of apparently natural features which contained quantities of worked flint dating to the Mesolithic period were recorded. One of the more significant finds was a Portland Pick, a flint tool characteristic of the Mesolithic period in Dorset. The Site is of considerable local significance