Monument record MDO18638 - Colliton Park; urban farmstead

A large aisled barn, a possible walled courtyard to the south and a ditched enclosure to the north, which contained a corn drying oven, may form part of an 'urban farmstead' have been revealed in Colliton Park, Dorchester, during excavations in 1937-38 and 1988. The centrally placed large aisled building forms the core of this unit. It opens out to the south on to a possible walled courtyard and to the north of the aisled building was a ditched enclosure containing a corn drying oven which had been used for drying processed grain prior to storage. This ensemble fronted on to the east side of the N-S street, but its extent to the east is not known and it is unclear whether there was a domestic building attached to this agricultural unit. It is not well-dated, but a late 3rd or early 4th century AD date can be proposed. During the later 4th century AD, there was some changes to this unit, with the construction of a rectangular post-built 'barn', together with a number of associated fences, and the construction of a new corn drying oven in the area of the ditched enclosure.

A number of structures excavated at Colliton Park in 1937-38 (1) and 1988 (2) and dated to the 4th century AD, can be interpreted as being elements of an 'urban farmstead'. These lie on the eastern side of the N-S street and comprise a large aisled barn, a possible walled courtyard to the south and a ditched enclosure to the north, which contained a corn drying oven. The centrally placed large aisled building (Building V, excavated in 1937-8) forms the centre of this unit. There is little surviving evidence for its precise use, but storage of agricultural crops, livestock, etc can be envisaged. It opens out to the south on to a possible walled courtyard. Very little of this area has been investigated and the full extent of this yard and the nature of possible activities which took place within it are not known. To the north of the aisled building was a ditched enclosure (excavated in 1988), which was empty except for a corn drying oven. The debris from the oven suggested that it was used for drying processed grain prior to storage, rather than being involved in the initial processing. This perhaps lends credence to the aisled barn being used for crop storage. The ditched enclosure could also function as a stock enclosure. This ensemble fronted on to the east side of the N-S street, but its extent to the east is not known and it is unclear whether there was a domestic building attached to this agricultural unit. It is not well-dated, but a late 3rd or early 4th century AD date can be proposed.

During the later 4th century AD, there was some changes to this unit, with the construction of a rectangular post-built 'barn', together with a number of associated fences, and the construction of a new corn drying oven in the area of the ditched enclosure.

Wessex Archaeology, 1988, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester (Excavation archive). SDO10074.

Smith, R J C, 1988, 'Excavations at County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, 1988' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO9661.

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

<1> Drew, C D, and Collingwood Selby, K C, 1938, 'The Excavations at Colliton Park, Dorchester: Second Interim report; Excavations carried out in the season of 1938' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO9765.

<2> Smith, R J C, 1993, Excavations at County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, 1988 in the North-West Quarter of Durnovaria (Monograph). SDO9660.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:30PM