Monument record MDO6247 - Medieval building, High Street, Wimborne Minster

Quantities of medieval masonry and architectural fragments re-used in footings of a nineteenth-century cottage, with brick/tile hearths beneath. These finds were interpreted as suggesting the presence of a substantial medieval building fronting the High Street.

Observations during the cutting of a trench for a new surface water drain associated with the construction of a new library revealed the front and back of a nineteenth-century brick terraced cottage at the western (High Street) end of the drain. The footings of the wall on the High Street frontage contained large quantities of re-used medieval masonry and architectural fragments, some from window jambs and transoms. Destruction levels of an earlier building, with an in situ tiled hearth below, were found beneath the construction levels of the brick cottages. The tiles were of 16-17th century date. These features and the architectural fragments were interpreted as indicating the presence of a substantial medieval building to the west on the High Street.

The street layout could not be defined. There was no evidence of a defined town circuit or of medieval occupation on the site of the new library.

Excavations carried out in 1975 failed to locate any Medieval structures or features, but it was noted that 19th century brick cottages which front the High Street were built on foundations of broken re-used Medieval stonework. These together with similar mouldings found at the back of the Priest's House Museum may derive from a substantial C14-C15th building located on the High Street. <1>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1981, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1979, 142-143 (Serial). SDO79.

<2> Woodward P J, 1983, Wimborne Minster, Dorset - Excavations in the Town Centre 1975-80; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO11589.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 888377 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 16 2024 12:11PM