Monument record MWX3447 - Tourist Information Centre, South Street, Bridport: medieval activity

Three, possibly four medieval ditches and a pit were exposed during the evaluation and subsequent excavation of the site for the new Tourist Information Centre on South Street, Bridport, undertaken by AC archaeology in 2000 and 2001. One recut ditch containing late 12/early 13th century material was on a NE-SW alignment, rather than being aligned on the street pattern and burgage plots and perhaps pre-dates the setting out of the burgages. The pit was of late 13th/early 14th century date. The remaining ditches were probably boundary ditches for the burgage plots and are late 13th/early 14th century or later in date.

Possibly three to four medieval ditches and a pit were exposed during the evaluation and subsequent excavation and watching of the site for the new Tourist Information Centre on South Street, Bridport, undertaken by AC archaeology in 2000 and 2001 (1) (2). In Evaluation Trench 2 part of a large pit containing possible late 13th/early 14th century pottery and animal bone was exposed. In Evaluation Trench 1 to the north of the site, a recut ditch oriented NE-SW was exposed. This contained medieval pottery of possible late 12th/early 13th century date. This ditch was not aligned on the town grid and its function is unclear. It could suggest that the burgage plots in this area had not been laid out at this time. (2) Two or three ditches were found running roughly parallel to the plot boundaries and these may represent medieval boundary ditches. A re-cut ditch running roughly E-W was found running along the northern part of the site, unfortunately its relationship with the NE-SW ditch is not recorded. Another ditch, running roughly N-S parallel to the South Street frontage, was found in Trench 2. It was also possibly recut. Both of these ditches contained medieval finds and the ditch in Trench 2 cut the pit mentioned above, suggesting a date after the late 13th/early 14th century. Another trace of a ditch running roughly E-W was found in the southeast corner of the site during the watching brief. No finds were recovered from this ditch section.

Record last edited

Feb 16 2011 8:37AM