SDO17311 - 33kV Pole Replacement near Bradford Abbas, Dorset. Archaeological Watching Brief

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) (‘the client’), to undertake an archaeological watching brief during the removal and replacement of a single existing 33KV electricity “H” pole structure. Due to the site’s location within the bounds of the southern edge of a Scheduled Monument (SM): NHLE 1002413 – Roman villa, Scheduled Monument Consent was required in order for work to take place. The consent was granted by Historic England on 8th June 2021. The monitored works were centred on NGR 359526 113439 c. 1 km to the southeast of the village of Bradford Abbas, Dorset, and c. 760m to the north west of Thornford. To facilitate the replacement of the pole structure the watching brief monitored the excavation of a single trench measuring 4.15 m long x 0.80 m wide immediately to the north of the pole structure. The trench revealed a 0.20 m thick layer of hedge build up followed by 1.20 m thick backfill. Underlying natural was pale brown-orange silty clay. No archaeological features were observed to be present or cutting the exposed natural geology and no artefactual evidence was identified or recovered. Following confirmation that the trench was archeologically sterile excavation through the natural silty clay continued to a depth of 2.10 m below ground level to facilitate the removal and replacement of the pole structure. Once the new pole structure had been installed the trench was backfilled with arisings and compacted down’