SDO16325 - Archaeological monitoring and recording at Milton Abbey, Milton Abbas, Dorset

‘A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording was carried out by Oakford Archaeology (OA) between July and October 2016 during works at Milton Abbey, Milton Abbas, Dorset (ST 7982 0229). The work comprised the monitoring of works in the south transept and the construction works associated with new drainage around the abbey church. The works inside the church revealed the extent of the Victorian disturbance, which in addition to removing the 18th century floor had also removed any surviving medieval floors and deposits to a depth of 0.5m. The external excavations revealed elements of the extensive medieval graveyard to the south of the unfinished nave and the medieval and post-medieval graveyard to the south of the choir. The trenching exposed elements of the north chancel chapel, as well as the heavily robbed-out remains of the Lady Chapel and south chancel chapel. Furthermore, excavations on the north side of the abbey church exposed a structure or building dating to the period after the dissolution. Finally, the foundations of the eastern most pier bases in the nave were also uncovered. The finds recovered from the site contained a small quantity of 12th - 13th century coarsewares, and a single sherd dating to the late medieval period. In addition, a total of 13 architectural fragments, largely belonging to the later church and ancillary monastic ranges, were retrieved during the works. However, four architectural fragments belonging to the earlier church were identified. These included a limestone fragment with chevron decoration dating to the 12th century and two conjoining fragments from a Purbeck marble tomb cover dating to the 12th -13th century.’