SDO10147 - 43/45 High Street, Christchurch. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

An archaeological assessment and evaluation was carried out during July 1995 on the site of the proposed residential development at the rear of 43/45 High Street, Christchurch. The site is within the Saxon burgh and medieval town of Christchurch. A desk top survey revealed that a portion of the site is likely to have devolved from the manor held by Christchurch Priory. The ownership of the remainder, assesed for tithes as part of the borough, can be traced back as far as the latter part of the 18th century. A field evaluation by means of three machine excavated trenches was subsequently undertaken. One of the trenches contained no archaeological finds or in situ deposits, and the area seems to have been terraced or severly truncated in recent times. Two medieval features were recorded, one in each of the other two trenches: a possible linear ditch over 1.5m wide, a shallow pit 0.6m in diameter. Both contained 13th-14th century pottery but their function is unclear.