EDO6326 - Christchurch Priory Drainage Repairs; watching brief 2010

A watching brief was maintained during groundworks occasioned by the repair of the surface water drainage system at the south-east corner of the Priory Church. The groundworks comprised the manual excavation of c. 15m of linear trench 300mm wide by 400-800mm deep cut diagonally across the south east corner of the building. Comprehensive disturbances to the depths of the trench were found along the entire side of the church. This was said to be caused by recurrent interments within the monastic cemetery, artificial raising of the ground level in the early 19th century and recurrent and comprehensive disturbances of the early 20th century during maintenance works. No significant archaeological remains were found and are unlikely to have survived the disturbances.