EWX647 - St James Close, Poole (PM4); evaluation 1974

Poole Museum excavated two small trenches (Areas I and II) to the north of St James's Close in February 1974, prior to redevelopment. A third area (Area III) lay in St James's Close and was the site of a watching brief during the digging of a pipe trench. Area I revealed probably two phases of medieval activity. The earlier phase was represented by several pits and a posthole. One pit contained 23th-14th century pottery and the other was filled with burnt clay and charcoal. The second phase comprised three lengths of wall footings of unmortared chalk, limestone and sandstone. Area II was not fully excavated. It revealed an undated chalk and limestone wall footing and 19th century brick features. Area III revealed four adult and one infant inhumation. These were not fully recorded.