SDO11449 - An archaeological excavation in advance of the car park extension at Waitrose Supermarket, Chantry Fields, Gillingham, Dorset

Excavation in advance of the extension to the existing car park at the Waitrose supermarket, Gillingham, Dorset (NGR ST806 263) was undertaken by AC archaeology during the summer of 1999. The site lies in an area of proven archaeological potential and incorporates surviving elements of a once extensive set of earthworks which have been shown by excavation to relate to a former suburb of the Medieval town of Gillingham, and associated fields, on the south side of the river Stour. Evaluation by trench and trial pit excavation on the site suggested that the earthworks are of broadly 12th to 14th century date, with structural remains identified towards the northern end of the car park extension. Excavation on a larger scale suggests that the main period of settlement on the site was during the 13th and 14th centuries. Stone buildings, surfaces and other associated deposits were identified and appear to include a domestic structure, with associated out buildings and external surface. These, formed part of what must be considered a large medieval farm complex, the full extent of which was not revealed during the excavations. The presence of medieval stone buildings, which is so far unique in Gillingham, indicates that a range of buildings of some importance was formerly present on the site. Demolition and abandonment of the structures appears to have taken place during the 17th and 18th centuries. Although there were no clear indications on the site for deposits pre-dating the medieval period, small quantities of artefacts of prehistoric, Romano-British and Saxon date were recovered. The majority of these were present residually either in medieval or post-medieval contexts, or within alluvial type layers. This document assesses the archaeological potential of the site and proposes a programme of post-excavation; this will lead to publication of the results in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society.