Monument record MDO4628 - Pit or cistern in the cellar of 22 High Street, Shaftesbury

A pit or cistern excavated in 1971, reported as containing early nineteenth-century material, including pottery and clay pipes. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water.

At Easter 1971 Members of the Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group carried out a small excavation in the south west corner of the cellar before it was filled with ballast. A pit or cistern was found below the tiled floor of the cellar. The feature was lined with sandstone, unmortared, and contained nineteenth-century material, including clay pipes and pottery.

<1> Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group, 1975, Shaftesbury and District Archaeological Group; Interim Report 1975 (Serial). SDO11484.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1978, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1976, 59 (Serial). SDO76.

‘(ST 86252296). In the cellar of 22 High Street, before it was filed with ballast, excavation in the south-west corner located an unmortared sandstone lined pit or cistern beneath the tiled cellar floor. The pit was 4 ft 6 ins deep, 4 ft wide across the top, 3 ft wide at its base and contained nineteenth-century material. The clay-pipes included bowls made by, probably William Dowdell of Poole and John Down, or Davis of Bristol. The pit was an insertion into the cellar which was constructed of substantial stone walls with two relieving arches.’

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1988, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1987, 35-38 (Serial). SDO87.

Record last edited

Dec 30 2015 3:25PM