Monument record MDO4662 - Thirteenth Century activity, Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury

Thirteenth century activity represented by a small group of ditches, pits and postholes and some layers of soil build up was recorded within the precinct of Shaftesbury Abbey, during archaeological evaluation and excavation by Wessex Archaeology and AC archaeology. This activity is poorly understood but may be domestic in character.

Archaeological evaluation by Wessex Archaeology in 1994 (1) and subsequent excavation by AC archaeology in 1996 (2)of the area of a proposed car park extension to Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury revealed evidence for medieval activity dating to the thirteenth century. The site lay within the precinct of Shaftesbury Abbey.

The thirteenth century activity was represented by a small group of ditches, pits and postholes and some layers of soil build up. These appear to represent domestic activity, in contrast to the later use of the site. (2)

[This description has been based on the initial assessment report on the archaeological results and may change when the final report is produced.]

<1> Murdie D and Barnes I, 1995, Proposed Car Park Extension to Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Stage 1 Archaeological Evaluation: Augur Survey and Proposals for Stage 2 Machine Trenching (Unpublished document). SDO11515.

<2> Cox, P W, and Tatler, S, 1996, Archaeological Excavation of the Proposed New Car Park at the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Excavation Assessment Report. (Unpublished document). SDO11517.

Record last edited

Nov 1 2013 3:27PM