Monument record MDO18832 - Gas Main, The Grove, Dorchester; post-medieval culvert

A brick-lined culvert, possibly circular, was found beneath The Grove near Top o' Town, during gas main works in 1955. It was observed running roughly northwards. Part of the same structure may have been found in Bridport Road near the Top o'Town House. No conclusions can be reached about the significance of these brick sewers on the evidence available, but they may be later than the Public Health Act of 1848.

In 1955, R.A.H. Farrar observed a brick-lined conduit exposed in the NW corner of a branch gas main trench opened in the west side of the Grove, about six metres (20 ft) east of the front garden wall of Top o' Town House.

Its crown was about 0.55m (22 ins) below street surface. It was probably circular in section (about 0.76m (30 ins) in diameter) but was not excavated to its base. Its direction was not quite that of the present road but inclined slightly east of north, pointing towards the entrance of Colliton Park. Only 2.75m (9 feet) of its length was exposed, however, stopping short 6.4m (7 yards) north of the building line of High West Street.

The bricks were laid end to end. A labourer mentioned that the same drain had been broken through in the gas main trench in the north side of Bridport Road by Top o' Town House. This conduit probably post-dates the 1848 Public Health Act and is probably part of a single system in Dorchester - other sitings of similar conduits have been made along the length of this Gas Main trench (1).

No conclusions can be reached about the significance of these brick sewers on the evidence available, but they may be later than the Public Health Act of 1848.

Farrar, R A H, 1955, 'Recent Discoveries in Dorchester; Conduits' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 129-130 (Article in serial). SDO9740.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:32PM