SDO21067 - Former Christchurch Magistrates Court and Police Station, Bargates, Christchurch, Dorset: an archaeological evaluation

‘The evaluation was carried out successfully despite numerous site and ground obstacles encountered. A Victorian well was uncovered in trench 8a, associated with the recently demolished pub. A Victorian wall (57) in trench 4a might also be associated with the pub, but this is more difficult to discern. Underneath this Victorian wall, an older wall was identified, possibly belonging to a building and dated between the 17th and late 18th century. A single pit also excavated in trench 4a was securely dated to the post-medieval period. This report alongside the previous evaluations shows that pre-modern features are present sporadically across the site, along with a multitude of modern services and truncation. These deposits appear to be related to the houses and workshops documented for this area in the early 19th century. Survival was particularly poor in the vicinity of the recently demolished public house in the south-east of the site.’