Monument record MDO19356 - Staggs, Christchurch (site X12); structure S4

Excavations in the tenement strip at the rear of the High Street frontage, Staggs site (X12) Christchurch, during 1976, revealed evidence for a structure [S4] in the NE area of the site. This was a large, sunken, early 13th century structure, 3.0m wide and at least 7.2m long. The NE wall comprised two post-trenches [414 & 416] with a 1.1m wide entrance, whilst the SW wall was inferred by a sharp vertical edge in the natural gravel. The interior was sunken and covered with loose gravel into which were cut three small post holes, a patch of mortar and a partition indicated by a slight stain [571]. It probably represents the remains of a non-domestic structure.

K. Jarvis directed excavations in the tenement strip at the rear of the High Street frontage, Staggs site (X12) Christchurch, during 1976. The results were subsequently published as a short note in DNHAS monograph 5 (1).

The excavations revealed evidence for a structure [S4] in the NE area of the site. This was a large, sunken, early 13th century structure, 3.0m wide and at least 7.2m long. The NE wall comprised two post-trenches [414 & 416] averaging 0.1m deep, with a 1.1m wide entrance, whilst the SW wall was inferred by a sharp vertical edge in the natural gravel. The interior was sunken and covered with loose gravel into which were cut three small post holes, a patch of mortar and a partition indicated by a slight stain [571].

The structure is dated to the 13th century since it was cut by ditch [73] which contains 13th century pottery. Four sherds from [416] and the interior are consistent with this date.

The building plan is incomplete but is typical of long rectangular medieval timber buildings. The lack of occupation evidence suggests that it represents the remains of a non-domestic structure. Nevertheless, this structure may have been located, along with three other structures [S5-7], within a medieval plot at the NE end, separated from the rest of the site by ditch [54, 73] during the 13th-14th century.

DCC SMR, to 2003, Former DCC SMR Card Index (Index). SWX8285.

<1> Jarvis, K S, 1983, Excavations in Christchurch 1969-80, 42-49 (Monograph). SWX4028.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2011 11:55AM