SDO10166 - Late Saxon and medieval remains at Christchurch. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

During the course of levelling operations by Christchurch Corporation in preparation for a new car park evidence of extensive late Saxon occupation was revealed. The corporation halted work for a period of 9 days in January 1974 to allow archaeological excavation of the site. The area lay immediately behind the NE defences of the Saxon town. within this area at least one and possibly more timber buildings had been constructed. Some of the post holes appear to have been cut through an earlier gravel road, possibly related to the town defences as part of an intra-mural road. An elongated pit underlying the road may have been a corn drying oven. The presence of Roman tiles and brick inserted into a layer of burnt clay which lined the pit strngthens this possibility.