Monument record MDO18201 - 19 North Square, Dorchester; post- medieval activity

A number of pits and a well, of probable post-medieval date, were revealed during a watching brief by Terrain Archaeology on the construction of a new extension to the rear of 19 North Square, Dorchester in 2003.

Two pits and a limestone lined well, dating to the post-medieval period, were found during a watching brief to the rear of 19 North Square, Dorchester, undertaken by Terrain Archaeology in 2003. The context numbers in square brackets are taken from the client report (1).

A large rectangular pit [513] about 2.5m by 0.95m across and 0.35m deep was found cutting into the medieval features in the southwest part of the site. It was filled with soils containing frequent mortar, limestone and flint fragments. No dating evidence was recovered and its function is not certain.

In the eastern end of the site was a large pit which was only partially exposed, so its overall size, shape and depth are not known. It was filled with a series of clay soil layers and only contained a small quantity of finds of Roman and medieval date and some brick and tile of post-medieval date. It was cut by well [706].

Well [706] lay in the southeast corner of the site and was only partially exposed. It had a circular shaft with an internal diameter of 1m and had a limestone and chalk block lining in its upper part. The top of the well had been heightened with a brick lining in a chalky clay mortar and a limestone coping, probably in the second half of the 19th century when the general levels across this site were raised following the demolition of outhouses and the landscaping of the garden. The well was filled with void stone rubble and had been sealed by metal plates. The date of the construction of this well is not known.

Bellamy, P S, 2003, Dorchester, 19 North Square. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeology Society, 164 (Article in serial). SDO9450.

<1> Bellamy, P and Tatler, S, 2004, 19 North Square, Dorchester, Dorset: Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SDO9449.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:27PM