Monument record MDO30114 - Field boundary ditch, Dorchester Prison

A probably post-medieval field boundary ditch was found in the northern part of the Dorchester Prison site. A field boundary is marked in roughly this position on seventeenth century maps of Dorchester.

A U-shaped ditch aligned roughly NNE-SSW was found in the northern part of Dorchester Prison during a watching brief in 1978. The ditch was about 1.2 m wide and 0.35 m deep cut into the natural chalk. It was filled with dark brown loam containing a little rubble and stone. This ditch is undated, but it is likely to be post-medieval and pre-date the construction of the prison. A field boundary is marked in roughly this position on Speed's 1610 map of Dorchester and it is likely that this ditch is part of that field boundary. (1)

<1> Draper, J, and Chaplin, C, 1982, Dorchester Excavations Volume 1: Excavations at Wadham House 1968; Dorchester Prison 1970, 1975 and 1978; and Glyde Path Road 1966, 99 (Monograph). SDO9690.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:40PM