Monument record MDO4616 - Medieval building foundations at Old Brow, Shaftesbury

Stone building foundations observed at Old Brow in 1947. The foundations were said to be fragmentary and of several buildings, the best preserved of which was circular.

(ST 85752278) In the garden of Old Brow House some foundations were uncovered during excavations by E. Jervoise between 1947-49. These footings were 2ft. thick and 9 ins. high and near one was found a human skull. Generally the pattern formed by the foundations was of some rectangular buildings, with a circular one to the east, which had a diameter of 13ft. No ashes were found at this particular building so that an oven, kiln, or beacon tower can be discounted.

Some 13th century ware, a glazed ridge tile and a whetstone were found. If the buildings were domestic a parallel can be found in the Medieval farmstead at Membury, Wilts, with round watch tower attached. <1>

The site is covered by a grass lawn and ornamental gardening and no visible trace remains of the foundations. Mr. Teulon-Porter was seen during field investigation and had no additional information. The 13th century pottery was seen in Shaftesbury Museum. <2>

ST 85752281. Building foundations discovered in 1947 comprise fragmentary footings, 2 ft wide and some 9 ins. high of poor stone buildings; the best preserved of these were circular and some 13ft. in diameter. Associated pottery was of the 13th century. <3>

Historic England, Historic England Archive, RIG01 (Index). SDO14738.

Rigold, S: Collection. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.The collection contains a large number of artefact drawings, notes, catalogues, reports and a notebook relating to various medieval sites.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1950, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1949, 54-57 (Serial). SDO49.

<2> Edwards, D W, Field Investigator's Comments DE, F1 DE 30-JAN-56 (Unpublished document). SDO18341.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 76 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(139) BUILDING FOUNDATIONS (85752281), discovered in 1947 (Dorset Proces., 71 (1949), 54-7), lie about 150 yds. E. of the castle (138). They comprise fragmentary footings, 2 ft. wide and some 9 ins. high, of poor stone buildings ; the best preserved of these were circular and some 13 ft. in diameter. Associated pottery was of the 13th century.'

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206496 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 13 2022 4:44PM