EWX1631 - Pound Barn, East Street, Corfe Castle; evaluation 1995

Wessex Archaeology were commissioned by Mr Lucas to undertake small scale archaeological works to the rear of Pound Barn, East Street, Corfe Castle, in connection with a planning application to construct a new building on the site (ref 6/91/0048). The site lies within the Conservation Area of Corfe Castle. Evaluation trial pits - A site evaluation was undertaken on 08.06.95 in the presence of Mr Lucas, Mr S Wallis (Dorset County Council) and Ms C Hearne (Wessex Archaeology). The aim of the evaluation was to assess the archaeological potential of the development area since ground levels are to be reduced (by up to 1m) prior to the building works. Two trial pits were excavated (mechanically) within the proposed footprint of the new building: •Trial pit 1, was located approximately 3m east of the barn in the highest part of the field plot. It was excavated to a depth of 1m on to the underlying 'natural' clay. The soil profile was a dark brown, humic, clayey loam. The only find noted was a sherd of post-medieval pottery. •Trial pit 2, was located on lower ground approximately 8m east of the barn. It was of variable depth, a minimum of 0.6m (south end) and a maximum of 0.8m (north end) on to the underlying 'natural' clay. The soil profile was consistent with that recorded in Trial pit 1, with the addition of modern building rubble etc in the upper most soil horizon. On the basis of the results it was agreed on site that an appropriate next stage would be to inspect the site once it had been stripped to the natural clay. Stage 2 - site inspection - A site inspection was undertaken on 13.06.95. The area of the new building had been stripped down to the level of the natural clay. Although conditions were not ideal for archaeological recording, the top of the clay sub-surface was visible across the greater part of the site. No subsoil features were evident. A thorough inspection of the exposed surface did not reveal any finds of archaeological significance - the only finds noted were a small number of modern pottery sherds and brick rubble (not retained).