Monument record MDO8704 - Pound Lane, Christchurch (site X2); Saxon Town Defences

Excavation at Pound Lane (X2), Christchurch, during 1971, revealed evidence for the Late Saxon town defences in the form of a wide and shallow ditch [F1], 1.40m deep and 3.80m wide. No datable finds were recovered from the fill but the ditch seems to correspond with the Late Saxon ditch 1 seen further to the NE along Pound Lane (site X1).

The South Wessex Archaeological Association (SWAA) conducted an excavation to the rear of High Street, at Pound Lane, Christchurch, during 1971. These excavations were subsequently published as a short note in DNHAS monograph 5 (1).

A machine-dug trench approximately 20m long across the proposed line of the town defences revealed evidence for the Late Saxon defensive ditch cut into the natural gravel. The ditch [F1] measured 1.40m deep and 3.80m wide, and contained a grey brown fill with an upper layer of gravel. No datable finds were recovered from the fill but the ditch seems to correspond with the Late Saxon ditch 1 seen further to the NE along Pound Lane (site X1).

The bank had been terraced away during development, but was seen in a watching brief.

<1> Jarvis, K S, 1983, Excavations in Christchurch 1969-80, 26-7 (Monograph). SWX4028.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2011 11:40AM