SDO15626 - Land at Christchurch Court, The Grove, Dorchester, Dorset. Observations and Recording during construction of New Car Park

‘An archaeological watching brief was carried out by Terrain Archaeology during substantial ground-reduction works to form an extension to the existing Physiques and Shapes Health Club car park on The Grove, Dorchester. This area straddles the two outer ditches of the Roman town defences. The outer ditch was shown to be about 9.8 m wide and to be of two phases. The lower parts of the ditch were not exposed and remain in situ, so a full profile of the ditch was not obtained. No dating evidence was recovered, but there is a suggestion that the ditch silted up gradually into the post-medieval period. Only a small part of the middle ditch of the defences was revealed and the upper parts had been severely truncated by postmedieval activity. A number of traces of post-medieval buildings and a well were found.’