Monument record MDO19318 - 14 High Street, Christchurch ( site W37); medieval town defences

A watching brief during development at 14 High Street, Christchurch, during 1982 (site W37), revealed a ditch situated 7m to the north of and parallel with the late Saxon town defensive ditch 1. The ditch corresponds with a complex of successive medieval ditches excavated at site (W6). It appeared 2.5m wide and a 9m length was recorded running almost parallel with the Saxon ditch. A third possible ditch seen at this time is likely to be a possible gravel quarry also observed at site (W6).

Wessex Archaeological Committee conducted a watching brief at 14 High Street, Christchurch, during 1982 (site W37) in advance of the Saxon Square development and during the removal of the tarmac from Sainsbury’s car park. The results were subsequently published in PDNHAS volume 105 (Davies 1983).

The watching brief revealed a ditch situated 7m to the north of and parallel with the late Saxon town defensive ditch 1. The ditch corresponds with a complex of successive medieval and post medieval ditches excavated at site (W6) and dated from the 12th-13th centuries. It appeared 2.5m wide and a 9m length was recorded running almost parallel with the Saxon ditch. A third possible ditch seen at this time is likely to be a gravel quarry also observed at site (W6).

Davies, S M, 1983, Excavations at Christchurch, Dorset, 1981 to 1983; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 46-53 (Article in serial). SWX4065.

National Monuments Record, Unknown, 14 HIGH STREET (Index). SWX9095.

Record last edited

Oct 29 2024 4:23PM