Monument record MDO2366 - Oddfellows Hall, Durrant Close, Westbury, Sherborne; medieval pit

A shallow pit was revealed during the observation of groundworks for a garage at Durrant Close, Sherborne in 1951. The pit was severely truncated but the primary silt was undisturbed and contained large sherds of 12th-13th century pottery.

C.E. Bean observed excavations for a garage at Durrant Close, Westbury (ST 63741629) during 1951.
A shallow pit was revealed in the underlying gravel, located approximately 7 ft from the NE corner of the Oddfellows’ Hall and close to the N wall of the hall.

The northern side of the pit was removed without observation, but C.E. Bean hastily excavated the remainder. It appeared to be circular in plan, 4ft 6 ins diameter and 1 ft 6 ins deep. It had been severely truncated, possibly in the 19th century during the construction of a road to the workhouse. The pit was lined with a 4in thick layer of clay, suggesting that it was designed to hold water. It was filled with clean gravel but had a primary silt layer at the base containing large fragments of 12th-13th century pottery including pans and cook pots with sooted surfaces and sagging bases. [1]

National Monuments Record, NMR Monument Record, ST 61 NW 27 (Index). SDO9937.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1952, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1951, 109-111 (Serial). SDO51.

<1> Bean, C E, 1951, Pottery of 12th and early 13th century type from a pit at Durrant Close, Westbury, Sherborne; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, p. 109-111 (Article in serial). SDO10306.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:09PM