EDO5676 - New First School, Ashmore Close, Hamworthy, Poole; evaluation 2003

Terrain Archaeology undertook an evaluation of the site of the new First School, Hamworthy, following a geophysical survey of the area. The evaluation comprised four machine trenches, between 18 m and 29 m long by 1.9 m wide (Trenches 2–5), around the area of the new school. The location of the trenches was determined partly on the basis of the geophysical survey results and partly in order to minimise subsurface disturbance in the area to be built up to support the new school. Consequently, all the trenches were dug around the perimeter of the area of the new school. A watching-brief was carried out on a further four trenches (Trenches 6–9), excavated for the installation of new drains, and on an area stripped for the new access road (Trench 1). Trench 1 was about 10 m wide and dug to a depth of about 0.4 m. At the northern end, the natural subsoil was exposed and it was possible to observe any archaeological features present. However, the trench became shallower to the south and after about 60 m the base of the trench did not penetrate through the overburden and it was no longer possible to observe any potential archaeological features. Trenches 6 and 7 were excavated in order to divert an existing drain that ran across the area of the new school. They were located immediately to the north and east of evaluation trenches 3–5. Trench 8 was dug to remove the earlier drain, which ran diagonally across the area of the new school between the western end of Trench 7 and the southern end of Trench 6 (Figure 1). Trench 9 was dug for a new sewer, which ran across the playing field to the north of the Middle School swimming pool. These trenches were opened using a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothed bucket. Their depth was determined by the construction team, but all were deep enough to expose the natural subsoil.