Monument record MDO30017 - Yard Surface, Barton Hill, Shaftesbury

A possibly deliberately laid yard surface of eighteenth-century date was exposed during excavations in Cockram's Field, Shaftesbury, undertaken in 1951 to look for Barton Manor House.

A surface, interpreted as a yard surface of eighteenth century date was exposed during excavations in Cockram's Field, Shaftesbury, undertaken in 1951 to look for Barton Manor House. The surface was 2-6 inches thick and comprised a mixture of pottery, roof tile, glass, oyster shell, stone and plaster rubble. It was discovered at a depth of 6-10 inches below the surface. It was stratigraphically earlier than a similar surface to the west. This surface dipped down to the southwest. To the southeast, were a series of stone-lined drains, which were thought to be associated with this yard surface. (1)

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1954, 94-5 (Serial). SDO54.

Preliminary excavation at Barton Manor, Shaftesbury (Holy Trinity); nat. grid ST(31)/867231.
The Shaftesbury and District Historical Society was unable to begin work on the traditional site of Barotn Manor in Cockrams's Field, acquired for a municipal car partk and market place, but a 15 ft. trench was dug thought a neighbouring bank (probably an old hedge bank) on the N. side of the fiel, principally in order to test the depth of the top-soil. Traces of fire were found at one point and near this were about a dozen pieces of rough pottery, mostly medieval but including two pieces of Romano-British ware.

Groundworks Archaeology, 2020, Archaeological Evaluation Report, Shaftebury Cattle Market, Christ's Lane, Shaftesbury (Unpublished document). SDO18106.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1954, 67-73 (Serial). SDO54.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1951, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1950, 76 (Serial). SDO50.

'(141) BARTON MANOR HOUSE (86752316), site, was excavated in 1951 (Dorset Procs., 76 (1954), 67). The floors of two yards with associated drains were revealed ; they were of 18th-century date, but 12th and 13th-century pottery, floor-tiles and glazed ridge-tiles indicated medieval occupation. The manor house appears to have been the centre of a medieval estate which extended N. and N.W. In the 16th century the estate had gardens, paddocks, a house, a barn, an ox shed and a pinfold, in all covering 2 acres (Survey of Lands of William, Earl of Pembroke, ed. C. R. Stratton, Roxburghe Club, 1909, II, 502)

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1952, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1951, 112 (Serial). SDO51.

A test excavation at Cockram's Field by E. Jervoise, F.S.A., for the Shaftesbury and District History Society failed to reveal the site of Barton Manor although medieval pottery and tiles and later remains were found. Three trenches, each 70 ft. by 2 ft. and 40 ft. apart, with others at right angles, were dug. Two layers of debris, perhaps intentionally laid, were found. One of them, including 18th cent. Were, was benath a depression in the field which may be the remains of a pond existing, according to Hutchins, on the site of the manor and marked on Upjohn's map (Hutchins, Ed. 2) of 1799. The second, which was partly stratified below the first, lay to the s. and sloped upwards towards the field level. Further S. were some ambiguous footings.

Record last edited

Aug 1 2022 10:34AM