Monument record MDO2389 - Fosters School, Hound Street, Sherborne; medieval occupation

Evidence for a possible medieval structure was revealed during an archaeological evaluation at the former Fosters School, Hound Street in 1993. This comprised a section of possible rubble wall, a section of stone wall footing in a foundation trench and a laid stone yard or floor. The pottery, though undiagnostic, suggests a date of between 1100-1350 AD for the features.

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation at Foster’s School, Hound Street during 1993, in advanced of proposed re-development. Two 1.5m wide trenches were excavated totalling 34m in length.

A number of medieval features were recorded, including evidence for structures on the street frontage and at the rear of the site, sealed below a medieval midden or demolition deposit. These features included a linear band of limestone rubble in Trench 1 [wall 29] with a possible construction trench beside it. Trench 2 contained a deposit of ‘laid’ angular limestone blocks bonded in a pale yellow sandy mortar [structure 10] interpreted as a probable yard or floor surface. Trench 3 contained a substantial limestone wall footing [14] in a broad construction trench [13]. No artefacts were recovered from [14] or [13] but they are likely to be medieval in date.

Medieval pottery recovered from a range of features suggests late 12th-14th century activity on the site. [1]

<1> Cox, P W, 1993, Archaeological evaluation of the former Foster’s School, Hound Street, Sherborne, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO10348.

<2> Cox, P W, 1993, Foster’s School, Sherborne; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 150 (Article in serial). SDO10349.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 1:09PM