Monument record MDO2407 - Land south of Tinney's Lane, Sherborne; medieval or later tentering rack

Field name evidence (Rack Close) suggests that land south of Tinney’s Lane may have been the site of a medieval or later tentering rack. Excavation of the site during 1997 in advance of development revealed a series of 20 16th-18th post-holes parallel to the western field boundary, some of which may relate to the tentering racks.

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological desk top assessment and subsequent excavation in advance of a proposed residential development at Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne during 1996. The collation and assessment of existing archaeological, documentary and cartographic documents, as well as a site visit suggested that the field name ‘Rack Close’ might indicate that the area may have been used in the medieval period for the drying of cloth. <1>

Excavation of the site by Wessex Archaeology during 1997 in advance of development for housing development revealed a series of 20 16th-18th century post-holes. Ten of these were equally spaced 2.5m apart and aligned parallel to but 3-4m east of the western field boundary. The remaining post-holes did not form a discernable pattern [2] but may be related to the tentering racks, which comprised a series of upright and equally spaced posts with horizontal cross posts at two levels between them. Tenter hooks were placed along the horizontal posts and the cloth stretched between them. The position of a rack close was frequently close to the site of a fulling mill. It is possible that the Lodge or Castle Mill marked on a Digby estate map of 1802 on East Mill Lane, was the site of the fulling mill. A further field called Rack Close is visible on the same map to the west of the mill and south of Long Street. [3]

<1> Valentin, J and Chandler, J, 1996, A preliminary archaeological assessment of the proposed development of land at Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO10367.

<2> McKinley, J I, 1999, Excavations at Tinney’s Lane, Sherborne, Dorset; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO10368.

<3> Cottrell, T, 1997, A preliminary archaeological assessment of the proposed development of land adjacent to Brecon House, Sherborne, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO10369.

Record last edited

Apr 3 2021 3:06PM