SDO11440 - Results of an archaeological trench evaluation on land adjacent to Plank House, Le Neubourg Way, Gillingham, Dorset

'An archaeological field evaluation of land adjacent to Plank House, Le Neubourg Way, Gillingham was carried out by AC archaeology during April 2000. The site comprises a single plot of land of c.1200m2, which is generally level and slightly raised in the northern corner of the site, there is then a pronounced break of slope, with the site sloping moderately to the west and low-lying ground forming the bulk of the remainder of the site. This is part of the floodplain of the River Stour. The current land-use is grass-covered with intermittent mature trees, the underlying geology consisting of Kimmeridge Clay. The proposed development will consist of the construction of a single house in the NW portion of the site, which will be approached by a new access track from the south. The evaluation comprised the machine-excavation of two trenches, amounting to an approximate 4% sample of the area to be affected by development. Both trenches contained an identical sequence of overlying deposits, comprising topsoil above alluvial layers to a depth of between 600 and 800 mm below existing ground levels. In Trench 1, located on raised ground in the northern portion of the site, a linear feature was present, which probably represents a former drainage ditch of unknown date. In Trench 2, located towards the site entrance in the southern portion of the site, an intact modern ceramic drain was present preventing further investigation in this location; consequently the trench was extended to the west, but with a wholly negative result. The only artefact recovered from either trench was a single sherd of 18th century or later pottery recovered from the spoilheap adjacent to Trench 1. The low-lying position, coupled with the poorly-drained, heavy clay soils present, appears to make the site unsuitable for early settlement activity. The single ditch located in Trench 1 is clearly draining the relatively higher ground in the eastern portion of the site onto the low-lying flood plain of the River Stour.'