Monument record MDO18833 - Gas Main, High West Street, Dorchester; post-medieval culvert and cellar

A brick-built conduit was found running E-W along the northern side of High West Street opposite St Peter's Church during the excavation of a gas main trench in 1955. It appeared to be circular and constructed from Broadmayne brick. The conduit was probably later than the 1868 Public Health Act. On the northern side of the conduit was the probable remains of a brick-built cellar, running under the pavement to the north.

Observations were made by workmen during the excavation of a gas main, dug 1.2m (4 ft) deep, along the length of High East Street and High West Street during 1955. At several points along its length, the gas main trench struck circular or arched brick conduits. Opposite the entrance to St. Peter's Church, on the north side of High West Street, an apparently circular brick-lined conduit was observed. It was approximately 0.6-0.9m across and ran approximately parallel with the road for some distance. It was constructed from Broadmayne brick. 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).

On the northern side of the conduit was the probable remains of a brick-built cellar, running under the pavement to the north.

<1> 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