EDO4929 - 14 Wick Lane, Christchurch; evaluation (Trench 3) 1991

Poole Museums Service Archaeological Unit conducted an archaeological evaluation during January 1991, for Priory View Properties Limited, in advance of development at 14 Wick Lane, Christchurch. The site comprised a roughly rectangular area measuring 26m 28m within the confines of the Saxon burh and medieval town of Christchurch. The evaluation comprised the machine excavation of three trenches and a further 2m x 2m hand dug trench. They were positioned to duplicate part of the proposed groundwork. A number of mainly post-medieval pits, ditch and post-holes were identified as well as a couple of pits containing exclusively medieval pottery. The following watching brief confirmed the disturbed nature of the Wick Lane frontage. Trench 3 measured approximately 23m x 1m and was located along the length of the access road to Priory View Court, aligned NW-SE. It was machined to a depth of c. 0.7m except where archaeology was visible at a higher level. A short section of post-medieval stone wall ran along the eastern edge of the trench with a post-medieval ditch running perpendicular and to the south of it across the trench. To the north of the wall a feature with almost vertical sides was partially revealed. Its fill contained several sherds of medieval pottery only. Further post-medieval layers were recorded at the north end of the trench. Hants County Museum Service accession number 1990-30.