EDO565 - Former Fosters School, Hound Street, Sherborne; evaluation 1993 Trench 2

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation at Foster’s School, Hound Street during 1993, in advanced of proposed re-development. The work comprised the excavation of two 1.5m wide trenches with a total length of 34m. the trench parallel with the street frontage was excavated in two parts, either side of an access path. A number of medieval features were recorded, including evidence for structures on the street frontage and at the rear of the site, as well as several pits and a possible quarry. Medieval pottery recovered from a range of features suggests late 12th-14th century activity on the site. Trench 2 was the northern subdivision of Trench 3, aligned N-S at the northern end of the site and measuring 5m x 1.5m. A medieval midden or demolition layer (layer 9 and 11) was recorded below the modern topsoil and disturbances at a depth of 0.7m. This layer was a mid-brown silty clay containing frequent medieval pottery, charcoal and limestone fragments. This layer seems to represent a continuation of layer 3 in Trench 1. This layer overlay a deposit of angular limestone blocks bonded in pale yellow sandy mortar which might be interpreted as an external yard or floor surface.