Monument record MWX3428 - Medieval oven, Humpty Dumpty Field, Radipole, Weymouth.

An oven revealed during road widening by DCC that removed a narrow strip of Humpty Dumpty Field, the site of a deserted medieval village.

During road widening by DCC a part of Humpty Dumpty Field the site of a deserted medieval village by Radipole parish church was removed. An oven was exposed by the contractor and excavated by archaeologist on site. The structure was approximately 2.73m square. The northern side was revetted into the natural slope and constructed of stone. The southern side which had contained the flue, survived in places and only for a few courses. The side walls to the east and west were 0.5m thick at their narrowest points and at their greatest height up to 0.36m high. The surviving part of the oven roof overhung by 0.10m. The oven was circular, 1.55m in diameter, and it contained natural soil form the slope to the north, above 0.20m of burnt daub. Under the daub the oven floor consisting of earthen ware tiles 0.30m square. The tile were intact on the west side of the oven, where they were missing to the east lines of ash marked the joins. The tiles were very coarse with a lot of crushed flint and between 350mm and 400mm thick. The tiles were set on a base of cobbles. The new wall that marks the edge of the field following the road widening now crosses the northern part of the oven. Though no dating evidence was recovered the character of the tiles suggested a medieval date. (1)

Record last edited

Oct 5 2020 6:16PM