SDO12521 - Archaeological Evaluation Report: Trial Trenching at the Former Royal Mail Sorting Office, Wick Lane, Christchurch, Dorset.

Allen Archaeology Limited was commissioned by Libra Homes to undertake an archaeological evaluation by trail trenching at the former Royal Mail Sorting Office off Wick Lane, Christchurch, Dorset in advance of a proposed residential and retail development. The site lies within an area of some archaeological potential, within the historic Saxon and Medieval core of Christchurch. A total of two trenches were opened within the courtyard of the site. A series of boundary features running perpendicular to Wick Lane were uncovered in Trench 1, dating from the medieval and post- medieval periods. The size and shape of the ditches indicate that they are unlikely to be associated with the medieval defensive ‘Ditch A’ that is believed to cross the site. A single pit in trench 1 was dated to the 15th to early 16th century. Trench 2 was devoid of archaeological features save for the foundation cut for a structure that is probably associated with the Christchurch Brewery buildings that are known to have existed on the site.