EDO4949 - High Street (Bank's Close), Christchurch; excavation 1980

Archaeological observations were made during the construction of a car park in Bank's Close, Christchurch between 1979 and 1981 (1). In c.1980 Mr P Aitken excavated an oven-like structure about 3m long and 1m deep. A sample of white vesicular material was examined by Dr P J Ovenden and is considered to be fused wood ash as it contains 20% silica and no iron. Almost all of a medieval green glaze jug with three feet was incorporated into the structure as a compact pile of sherds with other coarse pottery. Similar jug forms area known at Winchester. The oven was built into the rear of a bank associated with the 12th-13th century defensive ditch A excavated by Harding (2). A sandy layer was observed to the NE of a V-shaped ditch (ditch A) which is aligned parallel to and west of High Street but within the line of the town defences. This sandy layer may have been a bank associated with the ditch (1). The oven was located during levelling for a car park and the jug has been donated to the Red House museum, Christchurch (2).