Monument record MDO8718 - Staggs, Christchurch (site X12); medieval curved enclosure ditch [129/158]

Excavations in the tenement strip at the rear of the High Street frontage, Staggs site (X12) Christchurch, during 1976, revealed two late 13th- early 14th century curved ditches [129 & 158] 10.8m and 15.0m long respectively. The ditches were paired to form a possible entrance and [129] had been re-cut, although only a very short length of the original cut survived at the western end. Several post-holes were also revealed in the base of the ditch suggesting that a fence may have been erected within it. It is likely that this fence formed a boundary between two plots fronting on to the Mill Stream.

K. Jarvis directed excavations in the tenement strip at the rear of the High Street frontage, Staggs site (X12) Christchurch, during 1976. The results were subsequently published as a short note in DNHAS monograph 5 (Jarvis 1983).

The excavations revealed that during the late 13th century a strong curved fence was constructed and later rebuilt. The evidence for this comprised two curved trenches [129 & 158] 10.8m and 15.0m long respectively. They averaged 0.5m deep and 1m wide except at the SW end. The edges of the trenches were sharp suggesting that it had been backfilled fairly quickly. Finds included a pottery group datable to the late 13th-early 14th century.

The enclosure was of two phases, although evidence for the earlier period was largely removed by the later trench. The 1st phase trenches were paired to form a possible entrance 3.0m wide with posts of 0.5m, 0.6m and 1.0m deep. This suggests a stout timber fence terminating with large posts.

In the later phase the enclosure was extended and the entrance narrowed to 1.5m and timber beams 3.2m long, 0.1m thick and more than 0.2m wide had been placed on edge in the trench.

It is likely that this fence formed a boundary between two parallel plots similar to some visible on the Tithe map. The western end of the enclosure terminated in a change of slope with associated gullies and the end of [129] passes through two entrances in these gullies suggesting continuity of boundary through the medieval period.

National Record of the Historic Environment, 884732 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Jarvis, K S, 1983, Excavations in Christchurch 1969-80, p42-49 illus. (Monograph). SWX4028.

Record last edited

Oct 29 2024 4:06PM