Monument record MDO2388 - Harper House, Hound Street, Sherborne; medieval occupation

A small archaeological evaluation in 1991 revealed evidence for 12th-14th century activity including pits, structures and a possible midden. This activity appears to predate the earliest documentary evidence for activity on Hound Street

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation of the area of a proposed extension to Harper House, Hound Street, during 1991.

The work comprised the excavation of a single trench measuring 7m x 1m and aligned approximately NW-SE.

The hand dug trench revealed evidence for 12th-14th century activity including pits, structures and a possible midden. This activity appears to predate the earliest documentary evidence for activity on Hound Street (1).

A series of layers and stony spreads contained almost exclusively medieval finds. Removal of these layers revealed a limestone and sandstone courtyard or pavement and a single pit, both dated to the 12th-13th century through the associated pottery. Considerable amounts of pottery (7.7kg) and animal bone (7.0kg) were recovered given the small size of the excavated area (2)

Richards, J, and Hawkes, J, 1992, Harper House, Hound Street, Sherborne; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 181 (Article in serial). SDO10328.

<1> AC Archaeology, 1991, Archaeological Assessment at Harper House, Hound Street, Sherborne, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO213.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1992, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1991, 181 (Serial). SDO91.

‘HARPER HOUSE, HOUND STREET, SHERBORNE. Evaluation of an area of the street frontage of Hound Street (ST64191683) was carried out by means of a single hand excavated trench, 7 m long and 1 m wide. Modern topsoil and other superficial deposits overlay a series of layers and unstructured stoney spreads which contained almost exclusively medieval finds with very few (probably intrusive) later items. Removal of these spreads uncovered a limestone and sandstone courtyard or pavement and a single pit, both of which on the basis of associated pottery date to the late 12th or 13th century. The amounts of pottery (7.7kg) and of well-preserved animal bone (7.0kg) are considerable given the small area examined.’

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:09PM