Monument record MDO8721 - Keith Motors, Christchurch (site X13); Medieval town defences

Excavations in a tenement strip at the rear of Keith Motors, High Street, Christchurch, during 1976 (site X13), revealed evidence for the medieval town defences. This comprised a spread of mortar and heathstone fragments [5 & 7] which extended from the centre of the site to beyond the edge of excavation 10m to the west. Several 13th-14th century pits and hollows were cut into [5 & 7]. The mortar layer sealed earlier sandy clay layers interpreted as the Saxon defensive bank. An area of large heathstones [F8] was apparently a continuation of layers [5 & 7]. These layers are collectively thought to represent the robbing and demolition of the medieval town wall during the 13th century.

D Markell directed excavations in a tenement strip at the rear of Keith Motors, High Street, Christchurch, during 1976 (site X13). The results were subsequently published as a short note in DNHAS monograph 5 (Jarvis 1983).

The excavations revealed evidence for the Saxon town defences. This comprised a spread of mortar and heathstone fragments [5 & 7] which extended from the centre of the site to beyond the edge of excavation 10m to the west. Several 13th-14th century pits and hollows were cut into [5 & 7]. The mortar layer sealed earlier sandy clay layers interpreted as the Saxon defensive bank. An area of large heathstones [F8] was apparently a continuation of layers [5 & 7].

These layers are collectively thought to represent the robbing a demolition of the medieval town wall during the 13th century. Furthermore, the presence of 13th-14th century pits cut into the rubble suggests subsequent robbing of stone that was initially discarded. The excavation did not locate any traces of defensive ditches which probably lie outside the excavation area.

Jarvis, K S, 1983, Excavations in Christchurch 1969-80, 49-51 (Monograph). SWX4028.

Record last edited

Oct 29 2024 4:07PM