EDO4983 - Lyons’ Depot, Grove Trading Estate, Dorchester; observations and recording 1965

Observations were carried out by Christopher Sparey Green during the construction of the Lyons’ Depot. A terrace about 16.75m by 15.25m was cut into the hillslope, just outside the northern side of the eastern entrance to Poundbury Camp hillfort. Part of the outer ditch and south flanking ditch of the eastern entrance of the hillfort were exposed, together with a section of the Roman aqueduct. A partial section of the hillfort outer ditch was observed in the southern side of the site, but it did not continue through into the northern side, presumably terminating or turning to meet the southern flanking ditch of the entrance. The southern flanking ditch was V-shaped measuring 3.5m across and at least 1.8m deep. It was filled with chalk rubble at the base and brown loamy soil above. The aqueduct was seen in both the north and south sections and was an asymmetrical, almost V-shaped, cut about 3m wide by 1.2m deep filled with grey-brown soil. Another ditch of Roman date was found running across the site, which appears to have been part of the outer boundary ditch to the Roman enclosure 4. The results of this watching brief have been included in the published monograph on the main excavations at Poundbury (1) and the site record included within the archive of these excavations (2).