EDO4424 - Midland Bank extension, Wollaston House, Dorchester; excavation 1979

Two trenches, approximately 2.5m by 2m across were excavated on the east side of Wollaston House, in advance of a proposed extension to Wollaston House. Both trenches revealed deep dark brown soil deposits of post-medieval date. No structural remains were found. Trench A was east of the southeast corner of Wollaston House. It was excavated to a total depth of 2.4m. The trench revealed a layer of firm brown loam down to a depth of 1.5m, which lay immediately below the modern car park surfaces. At 1.5m depth a 0.2m thick layer of decomposed mortar and plaster was found. Below it was another dark brown loam layer down to the excavated base of the trench at 2.4m. It was not recorded whether natural chalk was reached at that depth. Trench B lay further north and closer to Wollaston House. It also measured about 2.5m by 1m across. Beneath the car park surfaces there was a 0.6m thick firm chalky loam layer with brick and mortar fragments. This lay on top of a layer of chalk and clay (possibly redeposited natural), 0.5m thick. A brick drain or footings was constructed at the southern end of the trench on this layer, and were probably contemporary with the construction of Wollaston House. Beneath the clay and chalk layer was a dark brown loam layer which continued down to a depth of over 2m. It was not bottomed. The lowest dark brown loam layer in both trenches produced slate and clay pipe, with no residual medieval or Roman finds..