Monument record MDO43850 - 19th-20th century foundation trench-Shaftesbury

A foundation trench was observed during the digging for a new boundry wall to Parsons Pool House, Shaftesbury. At several locations in context [1] areas had been cut into for the purpose of burying large rough hewn Greensand lumps and frequent angular sandstone lumps and fragments were recorded at the base of the trench. For the most part the three contexts of this trench contained few artefacts but broken tile and clay was locally abundant in the top two contexts. Nineteenth/twentieth century transfer printed china was recovered from both contexts, as were the occasional earthenware pottery sherds (post-medieval/modern). There was indication of localised soil and rubble dumping towards the street frontage. This was cut by a ditch that ran obliquely across the trench which in turn was cut by a substantial utility trench. No further information was recorded from these features.

A foundation trench was observed on the 22nd and 23rd of July, 2002 during the digging for a new boundry wall to Parsons Pool House, Shaftesbury. The foundation trench was excavated from the rear (east) boundary to almost the street frontage (west). The trench measured approximately 500mm wide and between 600mm and 1000mm deep. Frequent angular sandstone lumps and fragments measuring up to 150mm were observed at the base of the trench between 700mm and 800mm below ground level, this was taken as the natural subsoil. Dark green silty clay [2] and 450mm thick dark grey-brown sandy silt [1] covered this. In these contexts broken tile and clay were abundant but for the most part there were few artefacts save for the 19th/20th century transfer printed china and occasional earthenware pottery sherds (post-medieval) that were recovered. At several locations in context [1] cuts were made for the purpose of burying large hewn Greensand lumps. There was indication of localised soil and rubble dumping towards the street frontage. This was cut by a ditch that ran obliquely across the trench, which in turn was cut by a substantial utility trench. No further information was recorded from these features.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2022 4:13PM