EDO564 - Former Fosters School, Hound Street, Sherborne; evaluation 1993 Trench 1

AC Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation at Foster’s School, Hound Street during 1993, in advanced of proposed re-development. The work comprised the excavation of two 1.5m wide trenches with a total length of 34m. the trench parallel with the street frontage was excavated in two parts, either side of an access path. A number of medieval features were recorded, including evidence for structures on the street frontage and at the rear of the site, as well as several pits and a possible quarry. Medieval pottery recovered from a range of features suggests late 12th-14th century activity on the site. Trench 1 was aligned E-W at the northern end of the site and measured 16m x 1.5m. A medieval midden or demolition layer (layer 3) was recorded below the modern topsoil and disturbances. This layer was an olive green-brown silty clay loam containing frequent medieval pottery, charcoal and limestone fragments. Pit 21 cut this layer and a number of features were sealed by the layer. These included a linear band of limestone rubble (wall 29) and a second pit (pit 22), containing medieval pottery and filled with limestone rubble and clay, interpreted as a quarry (1).