Monument record MDO18154 - Greyhound Yard, west burgage plot

The westernmost of a series of medieval burgage plots running south from Durngate Street exposed during the 1984 excavations at Greyhound Yard. The east and south sides were defined by ditches and the north and west sides lay beyond the excavated area. During the medieval period the east boundary shifted westwards several metres. Within this cartilage was a series of pits, most probably chalk quarries dating from the late 12th to the 14th 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).

The westernmost of a series of burgage plots running back from Durngate Street exposed at Greyhound Yard. The east side was defined by a ditch [1427/3365] which ran roughly north-south and the south side was defined by a ditch [5487] which formed the back boundary to the burgage plots, dividing them from the arable land of ‘Estwalles’ to the south. The western and northern boundaries lay beyond the excavated area.

At some stage the eastern boundary shifted westwards by several metres, presumably to accommodate the construction of house [753] in the burgage plot to the east.

A large number of pits were found within this burgage plot. The evidence suggests a long sequence of activity from the late 12th into the 14th century, but with most of them probably being in use during the 13th century.

To the south was a group of at least eight intercutting pits [3165, 1432, 3220, 1872, 1451, 1898, 1871, 1875] which were large rounded up to 3.5m across and up to 2.2 m deep. They were filled with soils and some bands of chalk rubble. The general lack of domestic refuse in these pits suggests they were not rubbish pits, but may have been chalk quarries.

To the north of this cluster of pits were several other smaller groups of pits, largely aligned along the eastern edge of the property. Pits [634], [1202], [1235], [1419], and [1606] were large circular or sub-rectangular pits up to 3.5m across and 1.4-2.2m deep, with steep or vertical sides and relatively flat bases. They were filled with reddish-brown loams becoming chalkier towards the top and some contained quantities of chalk rubble. These pits may also be chalk quarries. At the northern end of the excavated area was a small group of shallow sub-rectangular or oval pits [976, 1485, 1458, 2059] up to 0.8m deep with flat or rounded bases and sloping sides. They were filled with fine sandy soils and pits [1485] and [1485] had a large quantity of flint rubble. None of these pits contained much animal bone or other domestic rubbish.

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, 87-92 (Monograph). SDO9411.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:27PM