Monument record MDO18835 - Gas Main, Bridport Road, Dorchester; post-medieval culvert

A brick-built conduit was found running E-W along High East Street opposite the King's Arms during the excavation of a gas main trench in 1955. It was circular and apparently filled with slush. The conduit was probably later than the 1868 Public Health Act and part of a single system in Dorchester.

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/High West Street and into Bridport Road during 1955. At several points along its length, the gas main trench struck circular or arched brick conduits. On the north side of Bridport Road by Top o'Town House, a circular brick-lined conduit was observed. It was apparently partly filled with slush. 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).

<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