Monument record MDO18836 - Gas Main, High East Street, Dorchester; post-medieval road

During gas main works in 1955, R. A. H. Farrar noted the remains of road metalling at the foot of High East Street, close to the junction with High Street, Fordington.The hard flint metalling contained a number of finds incating that it probably dates to the second half of the 18th century. The orientation and full width of this road was not clear.

During gas main works in 1955, R. A. H. Farrar noted the remains of road metalling at the foot of High East Street, close to the junction with High Street, Fordington. At this point, the gas main trench crosses the road from the northern to the southern side of the street. Much of this trench was disturbed and waterlogged making observations difficult. Towards the northern end this road comprised a layer of very hard flint gravel in greyish cement with ferrous streaks about 0.3m (1ft) thick, which lay about 0.75m below the surface. Further south the road surface was much looser with the flints being in a dark soil matrix and at a greater depth of 1.2m. The orientation and full width of this road was not clear.

A number of objects were found within the metalling including a bronze Roman hair pin, a large quantity of mid 18th century brass pins, a brass button with a stamped rosette design, later 18th century pottery, and many iron objects. These give a terminus post quem of about 1740 for the road surface.

<1> Farrar, R A H, 1955, 'Recent Discoveries in Dorchester; Discoveries in an Old Road Level, High East Street' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 130-132 (Article in serial). SDO9742.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:32PM