Monument record MDO19330 - Sainsbury's car park, Christchurch (site W6) medieval gravel quarry

Excavation in Sainsbury’s car park, Christchurch, during 1981 (site W6), revealed evidence for a medieval gravel quarry. This comprised a very large feature, some 3m long continuing beyond the north end of the trench excavated to a depth of 3.5m but not bottomed. 19th century material was still being recovered at a depth of 2.7m although a large quantity of 12th-13th century pottery was also present. This feature corresponds with [F6] at site X2, Pound Lane, thought to have been a defensive ditch but now thought more likely to be a gravel quarry.

Wessex Archaeological Committee conducted an excavation in Sainsbury’s car park, Christchurch, during 1981(site W6) in order to investigate the late Saxon and medieval town defences. The results were subsequently published in PDNHAS volume 105 (1). The excavation revealed evidence for a gravel quarry, possibly of medieval date. This comprised a very large feature, some 3m long continuing beyond the north end of the trench excavated to a depth of 3.5m but not bottomed. 19th century material was still being recovered at a depth of 2.7m although a large quantity of 12th-13th century pottery was also present. This feature corresponds with [F6] at site X2 (Pound Lane) thought to have been a defensive ditch but now considered more likely to be a gravel quarry.

Record last edited

Feb 17 2011 11:50AM