EDO5590 - New Swimming Pool at Melbury Sampford House; desk-based assessment 1997

AC Archaeology carried out a preliminary assessment in the form of a primarily, desk-based assessment, on land at Melbury Sampford House for the proposed addition of a new swimming pool. The assessment involved a review of the County Sites and Monuments Record, aerial photographs from Dorset County Council, and historic maps and documents from the Ilchester Estates at Melbury House, and the Dorset Record Office. The proposed development includes the construction of a swimming pool, pool house and paved areas inside the existing walled garden. The total area of this is approximately 800m². The main points of interest from this assessment have been identified as, the potential from the presence of a medieval settlement located on the site of the gardens prior to their construction, the potential survival of evidence for a Tudor pleasure garden, and the survival of evidence from the proposed 1742 gardens. This is with a view to assess the likelihood of medieval archaeology being present beneath the proposed development. The potential presence of a medieval settlement is seen as low as no evidence can be provided by this assessment, along with the unfavourable topography for a settlement on the site. Also, 400 years of landscaping have seemingly masked or removed evidence of a settlement. A Tudor pleasure garden was once constructed at Melbury House, though its full extent is unknown. Its presence is confirmed only by documentary sources, and therefore there is a high, though unproven potential for this garden to still exist archaeologically. The final consideration was the 1742 proposed garden, and whether it was built on the proposed site, a different location, or whether it was built at all. Localised trial pitting and geophysical survey over the development site has been suggested to identify the full extent of any deposits present. (No exact date given for works, dates given as start to finish of September).