Monument record MDO19336 - West of Millstream, Christchurch (site W10); medieval town defences

Excavation adjacent to the west bank of the Mill Stream, Christchurch, during 1981 (site W10), revealed evidence for the medieval town defences. This comprised a rubble feature [16] which represented the core of a revetment wall cut into the town defensive bank, robbed in the 12th-13th century. This wall was contemporary with a re-cut of the defensive ditch [120] for which the construction date is uncertain, although it was probably going out of use by the 12th century.

Wessex Archaeological Committee conducted an excavation adjacent to the west bank of the Mill Stream, Christchurch, during 1981(site W10). The results were subsequently published in PDNHAS volume 105 (1).

The excavation revealed evidence for the medieval town defences. This comprised a rubble feature [16] which represented the core of a revetment wall cut into the town defensive bank, robbed in the 12th-13th century. This wall was broadly contemporary with a re-cut of the defensive ditch [120] for which the construction date is uncertain, although it was probably going out of use by the 12th century.

Rubble feature [16] had a maximum extant width of c. 0.6m, and comprised large and small pieces of sandstone, ironstone, limestone and chalk, in a sandy loam matrix. It appeared to be cut into the layers comprising the late Saxon defensive bank. The feature appears to be the dry rubble core or footing of a narrow revetment wall, probably with large rubble and facing stones (on the east side) robbed out. Fragments of 12th-13th century pottery were recovered from around and within the rubble but provide a date for its robbing rather than its construction.

Cut [120] was one of a series of steeply angled deep cuts and could not be fully excavated due to waterlogging. The fill appeared to comprise a single, waterlogged, dark olive-grey silty clay (probably natural silting) with a large amount of rubble, notably towards the bottom. The fill contained no dating evidence but was sealed by layers containing 12th-13th century pottery. It seems likely that the rubble in the ditch was derived from the rubble core [16], suggesting that ditch [120] was open when the wall was being demolished although it could conceivably have been dug at the same time that [16] was being built.

The line of rubble [16] probably represents a strengthening or refurbishment of the defences, in the form of a revetment wall fronting the bank at a time when the late Saxon defensive ditch [123] had silted up, and that the bank/wall and ditch [120] are contemporary, probably dating to the post-conquest period. The occurrence of substantial rubble at the base of ditch [120], presumably derived from the revetment wall [16] may imply that this defence was fairly short lived. It could be argued however, that ditch [120] had already silted up and that the heavy stones sunk through the soft organic fill. This would gain more weight if the next ditch cut [122] were defensive, implying the defences were still in use. However, it is possible that [122] actually represents the clearing of the bank of the mill stream rather than a defensive ditch.

<1> Davies, S M, 1983, Excavations at Christchurch, Dorset, 1981 to 1983; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 27-33 (Article in serial). SWX4065.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2011 11:56AM