SDO9728 - Miscellaneous Discoveries and Accessions; A Well at the New Clinic Site, Colliton Park, Dorchester.

In March 1962 work in connection with the newly built clinic opposite the E. wing of the County Hall revealed the circular shaft of a chalk cut well with a 7ft upper steining of flints and limestone and chalk blocks. Its centre lies 6.5ft north and 4.5ft east of the SE corner of the clinic. The well, which was subsequently filled with rubble, was 57 ft deep to the exisiting water level, and was about 4ft in diameter. The steining was corbelled in to 2.5ft in diameter at the top, where the well had been vaulted in with a single skin of red Broadmayne bricks. At a depth of 3 ft the steining included a course of chalk blocks, above which the masonry was mostly flint and below mostly limestone. The question arose whether the well could be Roman with a modern protective covering, but this was disproved by the presence of three bricks in the top conforming to the curve of the shaft, and the feature may perhaps be associated with the traces of building found nearby in 1956.