SDO21422 - Land to the rear of 43 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, Archaeological Excavation & Watching Brief

OASIS: Bournemouth Archaeology, Bournemouth University's Archaeology Unit, was appointed by Renaissance Retirement Ltd. to carry out an archaeological excavation and watching brief at a site to the rear of 43 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset (NGR: SZ1579 9275) . The re-development of the site consisted of the reconstruction of the former Cornfactor building and the erection of three storey block of 26 category II sheltered apartments, as well as retail units. Groundworks were required for foundations, services and additional landscaping and encompassed the vast majority of the site. A large number of archaeological features were recorded in section and/or plan during the excavation. These included shallow ditch/gully type features and many smaller cuts and pits. Many of these have been dated to the Saxo Norman/Medieval period. A large and significant quantity of pottery was recovered during the project and this has allowed the site to be surmised in two phases of activity; Saxo-Norman/Medieval and Post Medieval/Modern. The project has identified a high level of Saxo-Norman activity especially to the south of the site, supporting the idea of large scale activity at this time in this particular area of Christchurch. This phase was mostly represented by pits and postholes and although these did not form an obvious structural pattern, the high number of features with dateable pottery associations, reflect a high level of activity in this area at the time. The division of land and property by field boundaries in the form of ditches and gullies was also reflected towards the south of the site. These NE-SW aligned features contained mid13th-14th century pottery and reflect the division of land parcels in this area at the time. Later buildings to the north of the site represent the post-Medieval/Modern phase while brick work including brick foundations across the entire site demonstrate the continued development of the site until more recent times.