Monument record MDO4650 - Possible large ditch on Savoy Cinema site, Bimport, Shaftesbury

Part of a large ditch (or pit?) was found along one of the suggested lines of the Saxon burh defences during small scale excavations in 1986 at the Savoy Cinema site. Several sherds of 13th century pottery were found in the basal fill of this feature. Medieval/Post-Medieval street frontage of Bimport represented by stone footings and metalling.

ST 8605 2295. The east flank of a large ditch (or pit?) 2.6m deep and probably over 5.0m wide was exposed in Bimport. The land fill consisted of massive Greensand rubble from which C13th sherds were recovered. A trench adjustment to Bimport located the wall footings of the Medieval and Post-Medieval dwellings fronting Bimport and a metalled surface. <1>

Small scale excavations by Wessex Archaeology on the site of the Savoy Cinema, Bimport in October 1986 revealed the eastern flank of a large ditch (or pit) in the western part of the site, along one of the suggested lines of the defences of the Saxon burh. It was 2.6 m deep and over 5 m wide. The bottom of this feature was filled with massive Greensand rubble, which contained several sherds of 13th century pottery. <2>

<1> Society for Medieval Archaeology, 1987, Medieval Archaeology : journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology 31, 122 (Serial). SDO19119.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1987, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1986, 185 (Serial). SDO86.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 913462 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 27 2023 2:55PM