SDO16427 - Curtis Fields, Land South of Chickerell Road, Weymouth, Dorset. An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment

‘Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) carried out an archaeological desk-based assessment relating to a proposed four phase residential development at Curtis Fields, on land south of Chickerell Road, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Dorset (centred on NGR SY 66298 78471). The project was commissioned and funded by Western Design Architects Ltd on behalf of Betterment Properties (Weymouth) Ltd. The work comprised a Site visit and research using Dorset Records Office, online and literature accessible within COAS. It was carried out in July 2012. The desk-based assessment found that, apart from alterations to field boundaries, land use within the Site has been stable, largely consisting of grazing and recreational use. As a consequence, little archaeology is known within its outline. Its potential may be better judged by Medieval finds from its east boundary and Roman material on the ridge to the south east. Of special interest is the concentration of prehistoric to Roman burials, pits, ditches and finds on the ridge overlooking the site from the south. It is highly probable that fields belonging to a sizeable settlement would have been laid out across the south part of the Site. A network of substantial tracks were found to branch from the arterial lane, which analysis of early maps shows to have been one of several old droves. It is possible that these trackways have their roots in the Late Iron Age or Romano-British periods. Faint traces of probable Medieval contour lynchets were found in one field on the west side of the Site whilst probable terraces perpendicular to the contour in the south westmost field are likely to have been caused by steam ploughing sometime in the second half of the 19th century or the earlier 20th century. The identification from air photographs of a possible circular structure set in a rectangular enclosure must be regarded as tentative, although the dry, south-facing slope above wet ground would offer a typical setting for comparable features of the later prehistoric period. In considering the staging of the proposed development Phase 1 would have impact upon an ancient droveway and the possible enclosure and structure. The Phase 3 and south of Phase 2 would probably have impact on as yet unidentified later Prehistoric and Romano-British field systems, whilst the Phase 4 area is immediately adjacent to an area in which Medieval material has been found.’