SDO10381 - Brecon House, Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset. Archaeological observations

A watching brief was undertaken during the construction of a new building on the south side of Long Street, Sherborne, adjacent to Brecon House (NGR ST 6464 1661). A line of four, perhaps five medieval rubbish pits was discovered immediately behind the present street frontage. These have been dated by pottery to the 12th century, which ran roughly east-west. The location of the rubbish pits on the present street frontage has been interpreted as evidence for the shifting of the road since the medieval period. Previous research has indicated that the original line of Young Street was about 20m to the south at this point and the present course was laid out in the 12th century. The results of the watching brief provide some evidence to confirm this hypothesis.