Monument record MDO6249 - Medieval rubbish pit, Crown Hotel, The Square, Wimborne Minster

'Excavations on the site of the Crown Hotel to the north of The Square and on East Borough failed to define any town circuit here or any evidence for occupation prior to the 13th century. A series of stone footings, probably 15th century in date, for medium-sized rectangular buildings and an oven that was rebuilt at least twice were found on The Square frontage … Rubbish pits of 13th to 15th century date were found below this series of buildings; no evidence for earlier occupation was found.' (1)

'A sequence of medieval occupation was identified on the Market Square frontage … Two 12th-/13th-century rubbbish pits, 61 and 81, were the earliest features; 61 contained burnt structural debris.' The burnt structural material in the filling of the pit consisted of burnt wattle, daub and charcoal from large timbers, and animal bone. (2)(3)

Excavations carried out in 1979 identified 12th century pits within the frontage of the Market Square and remains of 13th/14th century buildings dated to the 13th and 14th century. Three substantial boundary ditches, possibly delineating burgage plots, were also discovered. <2>

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

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1983, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1983, 57-74 (Serial). SDO83.

<3> 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.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 890413 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 16 2024 4:43PM