EDO6335 - Hamworthy Link Road, Lower Hamworthy Former Power Station, Poole; observations and recording 2011

An archaeological watching brief was carried out as a planning condition for development on behalf of Wardell Armstrong LLP. Groundworks associated with the demolition and removal of two properties on the Blandford Road, excavations to construction depth and the digging of service trenches were monitored, revealing a single linear feature running east-west across the southern part of the site. This feature, interpreted as a ditch, measured 1.70m wide with a maximum depth of around 0.33m and was truncated by two later cuts. A small post hole was identified and was of either earlier or contemporary date to the ditch. Pottery recovered from a layer in the upper fill of the ditch dated between mid to late Iron Age and the 3rd century AD. Groundworks to find a suitable construction level revealed significant archaeological deposits in the north-west of the site and open excavation followed in this part of the site. Three phases of activity dating to the Roman period were revealed. A curvilinear ditch measuring c. 10m in length and oriented east-west was revealed running to the ditch above and later in date. Three sherds of pottery were found dated to late 2nd to early 3rd century AD. A further linear feature was found in the south west of the area oriented northwest-south east measuring 4m in length and truncating the ditch above. A similar parallel cut was recorded to the north-east measuring 1.7m in length. A single fragment of briquetage or daub and a struck flint were recovered from the filling of this ditch. Other linear features, a large pit and artefacts were found but not dated to the three phases of activity. There was insufficient evidence overall to determine the nature of the Roman activity.