SDO21147 - Maiden Street Methodist Church, Weymouth: Archaeological monitoring and recording for preliminary exploratory works

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Cranbourne (Weymouth) Ltd to undertake archaeological monitoring and recording during preliminary exploratory works involving the excavation of 3no. trial pits. The works monitored were centred on NGR 367994 078755, at Maiden Street Methodist Church, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8AS. The monitored works encompassed 2no. exploratory excavations up against the inside of the church walls to determine the depth and stability of the existing foundations and 1no. ground investigation test pit to investigate the nature and stability of the existing ground. A geotechnical investigation borehole survey was also planned to be to be undertaken following the excavation of the test pits to investigate the nature and stability of the underlying geological deposits to inform the proposed development. However, due to the highly compacted nature of the underlying deposits it was decided to terminate this operation, and no borehole survey was undertaken. The archaeological monitoring and recording established that within the excavated areas, no archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were encountered other than those associated with the construction of the church. The church appears to have been built on made ground of gravel, which overlies natural gravel layers deposited by alluvial processes.’