Monument record MDO18335 - Old Foundry, Fordington High Street; undated ditches

Two sections of undated ditches, oriented roughly E-W, were found during the evaluation and watching brief by AC archaeology at the site of the former Lott and Walne Foundry, Fordington High Street, Dorchester in 1997. Neither ditch was dated and not enough of each was exposed to be certain of their function, although the location in low lying largely waterlogged ground suggests a drainage function. Both ditches were on the same line, so could conceivably be part of the same ditch, though no traces were found in the intervening trenches.

Two sections of undated ditches, oriented roughly E-W, were found during the evaluation and watching brief by AC archaeology at the site of the former Lott and Walne Foundry, High Street, Fordington, Dorchester in 1997 (1) (2) (3).

A ditch oriented E-W was found cut into the natural chalk in the eastern end of the site in evaluation Trench 1 (1). This ditch was about two metres wide and over 0.8m deep with steeply sloping sides. It was not bottomed. It was filled with mid grey silty clay with frequent chalk pieces and occasional limestone fragments. It was sealed beneath about two metres of deposits.

Another section of ditch aligned E-W was observed in the western part of the site during the watching brief (3). This ditch was about 1.5m wide and 0.7m deep with a U-shaped profile. It was filled with dark brown 'peaty' clay. No finds were recovered. This ditch was sealed beneath about two metres of deposits.

Neither ditch was dated and not enough of each was exposed to be certain of their function, although the location in low lying largely waterlogged ground suggests a drainage function. Both ditches were on the same line, so could conceivably be part of the same ditch, though no traces were found in the intervening trenches.

<1> Cox, P W and Robinson, S, 1997, An Archaeological Evaluation at the Old Foundry Site, Fordington High Street, Dorchester, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO9611.

<2> Cox, P W and Robinson, S, 1998, Dorchester, Old Foundry Site, Fordington High Street. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 103 (Article in serial). SDO9455.

<3> Mcmahon, P, 1997, An Archaeological Watching Brief during refurbishment and redevelopment of the Old Foundry, High Street, Fordington, Dorchester, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO9454.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:29PM