SDO10246 - Archaeological assessment of land at rear of Sherborne House, Sherborne, Dorset.

Southern Archaeological Services Ltd conducted a desk-based assessment of the known archaeology of the area around Sherborne House, Sherborne, Dorset, using documentary sources held in various archives, as part of the archaeological evaluation of the site. The assessment was undertaken on behalf of Dorset County Council Valuation and Estates Department. The assessment showed that the site lies in an area of significant Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement, which was unknown until revealed by recent excavations. It could also provide evidence to test the theory of the development of Sherborne from a supposed Romano-British religious enclosure (‘Lanprobi’) into the Saxon settlement of Sherborne. The site is also on the edge of medieval planned borough of Newland and further work could help to clarify the history of the development of Mediaeval Sherborne. Half the site appeared suitable for further investigation, but the western half was overgrown and difficult to access.