SWX8601 - Medieval and Post-Medieval Deposits at the Former Fire Station, South Street, Bridport

An excavation in 1996 in the Former Fire Station, South Street, Bridport, produced evidence for medieval and post-medieval settlement within the historic core of the town. The earliest phase of activity, dating to the 12th - 13th centuries and possibly as early as the 11th century, was represented by five pits and a posthole containing domestic debris. However, this was not associated with any building on the South Street frontage or elsewhere within the site. No evidence for occupation prior to the 12th century was recorded. Two residual worked flint flakes of prehistoric date were recovered. There was little activity on the site in the 14th and 15th century. The first recognisable building on the site, probably a dwelling, was constructed on the street frontage in the 16th century or earlier but was subsequently robbed of stone by the early 17th century. Activity in the rear of the property was absent in the 14th and 15th centuries, but there was intense pit digging in the 16th to 18th centuries. Some of these pits may have been excavated for clay. They were backfilled with predominantly domestic debris although some tools were recovered suggesting some light industrial activity. In the 19th century two separate properties occupied the site, which were amalgamated in the 20th century to form the town's Fire Station.