Monument record MDO18152 - Greyhound Yard, terrace 5490

A level terrace was found to the north of the early medieval strip boundary ditches and may be contemporary with them. A number of shallow slots were found on this terrace, which may indicate the remains of a building. A low chalk bank on the east side of the terrace, together with a gully running eastwards from its south end may have formed part of an enclosure to the east. These features all pre-date the inception of burgage plots running north-south across this area in the 13th century.

Found during the excavations carried out by Wessex Archaeology in 1984 prior to the redevelopment of the area of the former Greyhound Yard. (1) The results of the excavation were published together with the results of the adjacent Old Methodist Chapel excavations. (2) The numbers in square brackets below are context and feature numbers used in the published report (2).

To the north of the early medieval strip field ditches was a relatively level terrace [5490], which may be contemporary with these strips. Its eastern side may have been defined by a low chalk bank and the southern limit is unknown. The southern edge of the chalk bank had a butt end to the south, adjacent to the west end of a short, shallow gully [1371]. This gully was aligned east-west and was about 8m long and 0.2m deep. It was parallel to the strip field ditches to the south and on approximately the projected line for the next strip field boundary to the north. It was also on approximately the same line as the southern side of the late Roman building [2170].

Within the terrace were a number of shallow slots, only one of which had a clear distinct squared profile. These may represent a building but its form is unclear. The chalk bank on the east side of the terrace and the gully may have formed an enclosure with the remains of the west wall of Roman building 2170.

National Record of the Historic Environment, 1147737 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Dorchester, Durnovaria: Excavations in the town centre at Greyhound Yard, and the Old Methodist Chapel (1982-1984): Interim and introductory notes to the current excavations (Unpublished document). SDO9435.

Wessex Archaeology, 1984, Greyhound Yard, Dorchester excavation archive (Excavation archive). SDO9456.

<1> Woodward, P J , Davies, S M , and Graham, A H, 1984, Excavations at the Greyhound Yard Car Park, Dorchester, 1984, 99-106 (Article in serial). SDO9437.

<2> Woodward, P J , Davies, S M , and Graham, A H, 1993, Excavations at the Old Methodist Chapel and Greyhound Yard, Dorchester, 1981-1984, 86 (Monograph). SDO9411.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:27PM