Monument record MDO18448 - Show rings, Weymouth Road, Dorchester

The remains of two Horse Rings used for the Dorchester Show were exposed in archaeological works during the construction of a new football stadium on Weymouth Road, Dorchester, undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 1989. The rings comprised of two large oval alignments of regularly spaced postholes, with straight sides and semi-circular ends. The southern ring continued beyond the limit of the site. Documentary evidence indicates that these posthole alignments were part of the Horse Ring, a large oval enclosure which was part of the structures erected every year for the Dorchester Show, which was held on this site between 1921 and 1962-5.

The remains of two Horse Rings used for the Dorchester Show were exposed in archaeological works during the construction of a new football stadium on Weymouth Road, Dorchester, undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in 1989 (1) (2). The rings comprised of two large oval alignments of regularly spaced postholes, with straight sides and semi-circular ends. The more northern ring was 68m wide and over 105m long, its southern end was not evident. The more southern ring was 54m wide and probably at least 65m long, the southern end of which lay outside the site and was probably destroyed during the by-pass construction.

Documentary evidence indicates that these posthole alignments were part of the Horse Ring, a large oval enclosure which was part of the structures erected every year for the Dorchester Show, which was held on this site between 1921 and 1962-5 (1).

<1> Smith, R J C , Rawlings, M and Barnes, I, 1992, 'Excavations at Coburg Road and Weymouth Road, Fordington, Dorchester, 1988 and 1989' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 32 (Article in serial). SDO9558.

<2> Wessex Archaeology, 1989, Weymouth Road, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10042.

Record last edited

Dec 28 2022 1:30PM