EDO8098 - All Saints Church, Hampreston; observations and recording 2019

OASIS: Project Methodology: Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by RLM Architects Ltd on behalf of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints Church ('the client') to carry out an archaeological watching brief during groundworks associated with the renovation of the church heating system at All Saints Church, Hampreston, Dorset, centred on NGR 405520 098803. The groundworks monitored comprised 2 hand dug test pits, situated on the east and west of the existing concrete plinth upon which the oil tank sits. Project Results: Both test pits encountered cemetery soils, beneath a thin layer of topsoil in test pit 1 and made ground in test pit 2, with small quantities of disarticulated human remains being retreived from the cemetery soil and topsoil. A mid 18th -19th century coffin handle was also recovered. The natural gravels were present at 0.85 m below the existing ground level. The cut features recorded were the exterior of a brick vault and a drainage pipe in test pit 1 and the outside wall of the Church in test pit 2. No evidence for grave cuts was noted. The disarticulated remains represent a minimum of 2 individuals and include the remains of 1 adult and an infant. The remains were reburied within the churchyard after all works were completed. The archaeological watching brief carried out at All Saints Church, Hampreston, Dorset successfully met the aims and objectives set out in the WSI and showed that no in situ burials were present within the areas of the proposed development. The disarticulated remains recovered from the test pits are resultant from burials being disturbed when the church was underpinned, and the drainage was installed around the church.