Monument record MDO19392 - Sainsbury's Watching Brief, Christchurch; Saxon town defences

Observations during the development of the Sainsbury’s area in 1973-4, in the north-east corner of the Saxon burh and medieval town of Christchurch, revealed three ditches and a possible timber revetment. The innermost ditch had a V-profile and seems to correspond with the medieval re-cut of ditch 1, seen elsewhere on Pound Lane (sites X2, X15).

P. Aitken conducted archaeological observations and a small excavation at Sainsbury’s in the north-east corner of the Saxon burh and medieval town of Christchurch, during development of the area in 1973-4. These observations were subsequently published as a short note in DNHAS monograph 5 (1).

The excavations revealed three ditches but there were no datable finds. Observation of a builders trench revealed a feature suggesting a timber revetment and the V-profile ditch 1, seen elsewhere on Pound Lane (sites X2, X15). At site X2 the V-profile ditch represents a medieval re-cut of an earlier Saxon ditch. The ditch was filled with clean sandy soil derived from the collapse of the bank.

No dating evidence was recovered but it is possible that the timber revetment is associated with the late Saxon defensive bank.

Jarvis, K S, 1983, Excavations in Christchurch 1969-80, 51-2 (Monograph). SWX4028.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2011 11:53AM