Building record MDO8741 - Kings Arms Hotel WB, Christchurch; possible late medieval structures

A watching brief at the Kings Arms Hotel, Castle Street, Christchurch, during 1985, recorded evidence for possible late medieval structures. This comprised a series of clay floors, make up and occupation layers, and two large post-holes. Although the evidence from a small watching brief is difficult to interpret with any certainty, it is consistent with documentary evidence which suggests that occupation on the north side of Castle Street began in the 13th century.

K. Jarvis and P. Aitken conducted a watching brief at the Kings Arms Hotel, Castle Street Christchurch, during the excavation of a trench for the underpinning of the front wall in 1985. The results were subsequently published in PDNHAS volume 107 (1).

The watching brief recorded evidence for possible late medieval structures. This comprised a clay floor level [4] at the west end of the section with an occupation layer [5] above. After a short gap this continued with another clay floor level [9] and a possible make up layer [8] in between. Another clay floor [16]was recorded further to the east. Several large post holes [22, 11] may be associated with these floors.

Although the evidence from a small watching brief is difficult to interpret with any certainty, it is consistent with documentary evidence which suggests that occupation on the north side of Castle Street began in the 13th century. The layers are stratigraphically above the mortar of the town defences which is dated to the 12th-13th century, and are earlier than the construction of the Kings Arms Hotel in 1801.

Jarvis, K S, 1983, Excavations in Christchurch 1969-80, p12 (Monograph). SWX4028.

Jarvis, K S, 1985, Christchurch - Kings Arms Hotel Watching brief. (Unpublished document). SWX7863.

<1> Jarvis, K S, 1985, Christchurch - King's Arms Hotel, Watching Brief. site X18; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO10160.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2011 11:42AM