EDO6933 - Coastal Improvement Scheme, West Bay, Bridport; geoarchaeological desk-based assessment 2018

A geoarchaeological desk-based assessment of geotechnical records and British Geological Survey records in the vicinity of three sites proposed for the Coastal Improvement Scheme at West Bay, Dorset, was carried out in October 2018. At Parkdean site Fuller's Earth Formation sub-crops at c. -9.5m OD. This is overlain by Pleistocene river gravels and fine grained alluvium. The alluvium lies between c. +1.6 and c. +2.4m OD contains organic fragments of moderate palaeoenvironmental potential. The uppermost 1m is oxidised and thin Made Ground caps the sequence. At West Beach Bridport Sandstone Formation lies within 1m of the surface in the west of the site. An unassigned Jurassic mudstone lies at c. -11.5m OD in the east and the boundary is faulted. Pleistocene gravels overlie the bedrock, and occupy a channel trending north/south in the east of the site. In the north and along the Esplanade are thick deposits of fine grained alluvium lying at c. +1.7m OD. Organic fragments and two thin peats are present and of moderate palaeoenvironmental potential but not affected by the Scheme. Beach deposits overlie the alluvium. At East Beach channelled Jurassic mudstone subcrops between -11.9m OD and -8m OD. Gravel overlies it followed by fine grained alluvium High potential peat beds are present but unaffected. Beach deposits overlie the alluvium with brick at 8.7m bgl.