SDO10379 - A preliminary archaeological assessment of the proposed development of land at Greenhill House, Sherborne, Dorset

A largely desk-based study has been undertaken to support a planning application for the construction of a new building adjacent to Greenhill House, The Green, Sherborne. Greenhill House is now a functioning part of Sherborne School and is originally of 16th century date, with later additions. The Green is known to have existed from at least the early 15th century and Greenhill House may therefore have replaced an earlier structure, but no evidence for this has been found. The site itself may have been one occupied by structures demolished after the capture of Sherborne by parliamentary soldiers during the Civil War. Although there are no existing records of archaeological sites or finds on the site, other than Greenhill House itself, there exists some potential for the presence of Medieval archaeological deposits. Further investigation of these, prior to the commencement of development, would prove difficult without causing considerable disruption to the continued functioning of the school buildings on the site.