Monument record MDO19301 - Millhams Street, Christchurch; post medieval earth closet in Trench 3

An archaeological evaluation of land adjacent to Millhams Street, Christchurch, during 1999, revealed evidence for a post medieval earth closet in Trench 3. This was a clay and timber lined structure at the eastern end of the trench. It contained post medieval pottery in its upper fill.

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation of land adjacent to Millhams Street, Christchurch, during 1999 in advance of proposed redevelopment. It was subsequently published as a short note in the PDNHAS vol. 122 (1). Much of the following description is derived from an unpublished client report (2).

Three trenches were excavated and evidence for a post medieval earth closet [F317] was revealed in Trench 3, which was located at the eastern end of the site. This was a clay and timber lined structure at the eastern end of the trench. It was a rectangular feature, a maximum of 2.7m long and at least 1.5m wide. In plan it comprised a rectangular pit with an outer clay lining and a rough timber inner lining. The structure was infilled with a dark greyish-brown mottled soil. Frequent animal bone, iron nails, slate, ceramic building material and post medieval pottery (18th-19th century) were visible in the top of this fill. The feature was not excavated further.

<1> Hudson, A, 2000, Christchurch, Millhams Street (Article in serial). SDO10138.

<2> Hulka, S and Hudson, A, 1999, An Archaeological Field Evaluation of the Proposed Development of Land Adjacent to Millhams Street, Christchurch, Dorset
An archaeological Field Evaluation of the Proposed Development of Land Adjacent to Millhams Street, Christchurch, Dorset. (Unpublished document). SDO10139.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2011 11:48AM