Monument record MDO19809 - Melrose, Hound Street, Sherborne; 17th century garden

Evidence for a 17th century garden was recovered during an archaeological evaluation at Melrose, 43 Hound Street in 2001. This comprised a possible raising of the ground level with soil at a time when the original building was constructed. Into this was cut a possible post-medieval cess-pit or well and a possible gravel path way.

Oxford Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation at Melrose, 43 Hound Street, Sherborne during 2003 in advance of proposals to extend and refurbish the property. The evaluation consisted of the excavation of ten exploratory geotechnical test pits in the garden of the 17th century house, and one within the building itself.

A medieval possible boundary ditch in Test Pit 8 was sealed beneath a 17th century soil layer probably formed when the 17th century garden was laid out. A possible post-medieval cess pit cut this soil. Traces of a gravel path and former turf line were observed sealed by a later phase of probably 18th century or later soil landscaping. The gravel pathway and former turf line are suggestive of a formal garden, perhaps laid out in the 17th century [1].

<1> Simmonds, A, 2001, Melrose, Hound Street, Sherborne, Dorset. Archaeological evaluation (Unpublished document). SDO10415.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 2011, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 2010, 155 (Serial). SDO14017.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:08PM