Monument record MDO2413 - Land to the rear of Sherborne House; medieval occupation

Evidence for medieval occupation along the south side of Coldharbour was revealed during an AC Archaeology evaluation on land to the rear of Sherborne House in 1997. This comprised a series of intercutting 13th century pits and a possible associated mortar surface at the northern end of Trench 1. This is thought to represent the southern limit of medieval occupation fronting on to Coldharbour.

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation of land to the rear of Sherborne House, Sherborne during 1997. The work comprised the machine excavation of five trenches in area B, and three 2m x 1m hand dug trial pits in area C.

The trenches in area B contained post-medieval and modern pits and linear features. Trench 1 contained two post-medieval pits [F110] & [F105]; Trench 2 contained a single post-medieval pit [F203] with early post-medieval pottery and a coin of Charles I, a farthing dating from 1635-49; Trench 3 contained three post-medieval pits [F306], [F303] & [F309] and Trench 4 contained a curving post-medieval/ modern linear feature that may be associated with the formal gardens of Sherborne House.

These features may be associated with the early history of Sherborne House which was built in the first part of the 18th century. Alternatively they may be associated with the rear of buildings along the Coldharbour Street frontage.

The trial pits in area C contained no archaeological features, although moderate quantities of medieval and post-medieval finds were recovered [1].

<1> Valentin, J, 1997, An archaeological evaluation of land at the rear of Sherborne House, Sherborne, Dorset: Areas B and C (Unpublished document). SDO10382.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:10PM