Monument record MDO19332 - Sainsbury's car park, Christchurch (site W5); medieval pit and gully complex

Excavation in Sainsbury’s car park, Christchurch, during 1981 (site W5), revealed several possibly medieval features. These included a shallow 12th century gully or ditch, a small complex of gullies and post-holes in the SW corner of the trench, a series of shallow pits and five post-holes probably of medieval or earlier date. This comprises slight evidence for timber buildings, although the small size of the trench precludes satisfactory interpretation.

Wessex Archaeological Committee conducted an excavation in Sainsbury’s car park, Christchurch, during 1981(site W5) in order to investigate activity north of the medieval town defences. The results were subsequently published in PDNHAS volume 105 (Davies 1983).

The excavation revealed several possibly medieval features. These included a shallow 12th century gully or ditch running along the east baulk, a small complex of gullies and post-holes in the SW corner of the trench, and on the west side in the centre a series of shallow pits. A spine of natural gravel ran SE-NW up the centre of the trench and was cut by a line of, not necessarily contemporaneous, five post-holes probably of medieval or earlier date.

The only dating evidence for the post-holes is provided by the fact that one of them is cut by a mid 19th century pit crammed with Verwood type earthenware. There is no good dating for the pit and gully complexes on the west side other than a few sherds of probable medieval pottery.

This comprises slight evidence for timber buildings, although the small size of the trench precludes satisfactory interpretation.

Davies, S M, 1983, Excavations at Christchurch, Dorset, 1981 to 1983; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 23-5 (Article in serial). SWX4065.

Record last edited

Oct 29 2024 4:30PM