SDO14451 - Holmwood Park, Ferndown, Dorset. Archaeological Evaluation Report.

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Bellway Homes Ltd (Wessex) to undertake an archaeological evaluation on land at Holmwood Park, Ferndown, Dorset centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) 406945 098700. The evaluation took place between the 22nd and 29th June 2015. The evaluation followed an archaeological desk-based assessment (DBA) for the Site that summarised the known archaeology and heritage assets and a geophysical survey (over all accessible parts of the site) which revealed a limited number of possible archaeological features. As a result, the Senior Archaeologist at Dorset County Council requested a trial trench evaluation to assess the presence or absence and extent of any buried archaeological remains that may exist within the site, and which may be affected by development. The evaluation revealed a number of mostly flat based ditches across the site representing former field system and utilization of natural waterways, probably of post-medieval to Victorian date. All linear features recorded appeared to be used to drain water from uphill regions of site to the lower ground in the south-east of site. The made ground deposit recorded in Trench 18 represents a deliberate effort to dry this particular area by raising the ground level. The deposit was rich in Victorian material, and together with the ditch and land drain system probably can be related to the establishment of the Holmwood House and the associated park in the 19th century.’