EDO8099 - Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury; observations and recording 2022

OASIS: Project Methodology: Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, to undertake an archaeological watching brief during demolition works and ground disturbance works associated with the proposed new road layout and car parking area at Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8BD. The works to be monitored are centred on NGR 386031 122874). The development comprises the creation of a new vehicular access route from the main carpark to the staff park in addition to the construction of additional car parking spaces. The watching brief was carried out as a condition of a planning consent Project Results: The watching brief highlighted significant ground disturbance that demonstrated substantial reuse of the site over time. The depth of overburden was over 1 m and in much of the site groundworks did not reach the natural geology. As such it is difficult to fully characterise the site and understand the archaeological potential, but the continued presence of made ground will protect any undiscovered archaeological resource. The discovery of buried post medieval walls and the presence of medieval artefacts amongst the finds in the disturbed layers indicates a background activity beginning in the medieval period. The watching brief allowed the preservation by record of the archaeological deposits and features which might otherwise have been unrecorded and allowed the presence of a well, preserved in situ to be highlighted.