SDO11370 - A proposed development at West Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset. Results of an historic map review and archaeological trench evaluation.

An historic map review and archaeological trench evaluation for a proposed new Library site on land at West Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset (ST 38837 10615), was carried out by AC archaeology during May 2005. The site is an open area of land adjacent to the street frontage, and is crossed through its centre by a substantial buried brick-lined culvert. The map evidence suggests that from the mid 17th century until after 1929 the site was never built on and was either small fields, allotments and later a garden. The first structure on the site is shown on a map of 1961 and was present until at least 1980. The trench evaluation comprised the machine excavation of three trenches, each 5m long and 1.6m wide. This work appears to confirm the map evidence, in that the upper levels of some trenches contained modern structural evidence, while the lower levels generally consisted of previously cultivated soils. There were also no finds recovered from any layer or deposit which pre-date the 17th or 18th century.