Monument record MDO6251 - Ditch, possible medieval property boundary, Mill Lane, Wimborne Minster

A ditch running at right angles to Mill Lane was exposed during building works in 1984. The ditch cannot be securely dated, its orientation, shape and dimensions are similar to ditches found on the site of the Crown Hotel, which were interpreted as medieval property boundaries. The Mill Lane ditch may be part of this group.

In 1984 a long trench was excavated on the North side of Hill Lane, and at a right-angle to it, at SU 0100 0007. At a distance of 5.0 m from the building frontage a ditch was exposed in both the West and East sections which may be a Medieval property boundary such as those ditches at the Crown Hotel site (SU 00 NW 96). The ditch was at least 2.0m wide and 1.0m deep. <1>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1985, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1984, 123 (Serial). SDO84.

Building operations in November 1984 resulted in a deep trench being cut at right angles to, and on the north side of Mill Lane. In both east and west side of this trench, and at a distance of about 5 metres from the building frontage, a ditch was observed in section and recorded. This ditch was 'U' shaped on the west section but had a flat bottom on the east, and was sealed below 0.5-0.8m of topsoil. The ditch was cut into river terrace gravels, was about 1.0 - 1.2m deep and at least 2.0m wide, but was cut away by modern disturbance on the north side. The ditch was filled with dark grey-brown clayey silts with a notable grey-ashy deposit at its base. The only recorded finds from the ditch were an oyster shell and some charcoal.

Although the ditch cannot be securely dated, the orientation, shape and dimensions do bear some similarity with thse recorded on the site of the Crown Hotel. It was suggested that these may have been medieval property boundaries, possibly for burgage plots. It is possible that this ditch in Mill Lane may being to this group.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 890356 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 11 2023 5:05PM