SDO15327 - Land at Cuthbury, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report.

‘A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land at Cuthbury, Wimborne Minster, Dorset (centred on NGR 400400, 099950). The project was commissioned by Wyatt Homes Ltd. with the aim of establishing the presence, or otherwise, and nature of detectable archaeological features ahead of the residential development of the site. The survey area comprises three areas running parallel, on the north and east side of the river Stour, and to the southwest of the town of Wimborne Minster. The areas covering a total of 8.4ha, of which 5.5ha was surveyed. The remaining 2.9ha was unsurveyable due to building works being undertaken within the survey area, field boundaries and access issues. The geophysical survey was undertaken between the 27th and 29th of April 2015. The detailed gradiometer survey has demonstrated the presence of a number of anomalies of potential archaeological interest, a modern service and some superficial geology. The survey is characterised by a strong magnetic background in the eastern parcels of land with fields bearing large amounts of ferrous. Faint linear trends are present in the west and south however their origin is unknown. The anomalies identified as being of archaeological interest are primarily interpreted as small ditch features or isolated pits. These are likely to represent past agricultural land management or trackways. Due to the isolated nature of these features it is difficult to place these in their wider context. Areas to the northeast show anomalies related to the Wimborne Town Football club. These are not archaeological in nature.’