SWX8612 - A Proposed New Tourist Information Centre on Land at South Street, Bridport, Dorset: Results of Archaeological trial pit investigation

A second stage archaeological evaluation, by means of the machine-excavation of trial pits was carried out by AC archaeology on the site of a proposed tourist information centre, on land currently used as a car park immediately south of the junction of South Street and Church Street, Bridport, Dorset (SY46619270). The first stage of works comprised a brief review of historical maps dating from 1773 to 1999. The 1773 map shows that the site occupies part of the frontage of two burgage plots running back from South Street. Buildings are shown on both the Church Street and South Street frontages at this date. Between 1962 and 1980 the entire site was cleared of buildings before being used as a car park. The evaluation comprised the excavation of two trial pits, each 2m x 2m in plan, amounting to an approximate 5.3% sample of the proposed structure ground plan. Both trial pits contained evidence for intact archaeological deposits, in the form of two linear features and a probable former rubbish pit. Pottery was recovered in moderate quantities, an assessment of this material indicating two separate phases on the site; the earliest is late 12th- to early 13th-century, the second late 13th-to early 14th-century. These two periods are little understood within Bridport, where only limited archaeological work has previously been carried. It is possible, although the evidence is somewhat limited within the confines of two trial pits, that the site may contain links between the old town and, so-called 14th century 'new' town', with evidence from both phases seemingly represented. The earliest phase is considered to be around the time when the settlement focus within Bridport is thought to shift from south to north, when the 'new town' centred around the East Street and West Street was founded.