EWX1705 - Former Fire Station, South Street, Bridport; evaluation 1996

A trench was excavated in the former Fire Station, South Street, Bridport by Wessex Archaeology in 1996. This followed an earlier evaluation in 1995. The site was formerly two narrow properties running back from the east side of South Street, which were amalgamated when the Fire Station was built in the 20th century. Other than a few flint flakes and some possible 11th century pottery, there is no material that is earlier than the 12th century. The earliest phase of activity is a line of pits and one post hole of 12th century date. There is little evidence for 14th-15th century activity, but the robbed out remains of a building on the South Street frontage, a drain and another possible robbed out structure may be of this date. (1) (2) There was a considerable number of pits, a well, and at least one ditch dating to the 16th-18th century in the area behind the street frontage. No trace of any structure was discovered on the street frontage, but the lack of features in this area suggests that there was some sort of structure here.(1) The remains of two 19th-20th century buildings were also uncovered.(1)