EDO3735 - Wessex Court, Charles Street, Dorchester; Trench 5

Trench 5, together with Trench 4, formed the second stage of archaeological excavations conducted by Wessex Archaeology in advance of the proposed Wessex Court retail development, Charles Street, Dorchester in 1989. The trench was located at the southern end of the development area and measured approximately 12m N-S by 6m E-W, with a small 4m x 4m extension on the western side. The location was chosen to investigate an early Roman ditch which may have marked the position of an early Roman fort, initial town planning or other feature. Part of a substantial bank of re-deposited chalk, surviving to a height of 2.5m above the Roman ground surface was located. This is the remains of the primary defensive rampart of the Roman Town. The northern (internal) side of the bank had been consolidated by the dumping of a massive deposit of clay and chalk, which may represent late Roman refurbishment of the defences. There is also an earlier chalk and turf bank about one metre high which may represent a marking out bank for the first phase of defences.