SDO10148 - The Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation of a Proposed Residential Development at the Rear of 43/45 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset

AC Archaeology were commissioned by the landowner, Mr Bassage, to conduct a desk-based assessment and archaeological evaluation on land at the rear of 43/45 High Street, Christchurch, in advance of propsed residential debvelopment. The desk-based study 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. The evaluation, by means of three machine dug trenches took place in July 1995. 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.