SDO10488 - 'Bridport's 13th-century defences: Archaeological Observations to the rear of 41 and 43 East Street, Bridport' Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

Archaeological observations to the rear of 41 and 43 East Street, Bridport revealed traces of a large ditch, about 7m wide and 3m deep, running east-west, along the southern side of Rax Lane. This ditch has been identified as the 'Wide Ditch', the 13th-century town ditch that defended the northern side of Bridport. The ditch remained a boundary feature until the late 18th century. Following the digging of this ditch, there is no evidence for activity on this site until the 17th/early 18th century, when a boundary wall was built along the southern lip of the Town Ditch and a number of pits were dug to the south. These pits are probably associated with the existing house on the East Street frontage, built in the 17th century. Several late 18th/early 19th century pits were dug through the fills of the Town Ditch. Two pottery vessels from pits dated c. 1800 are almost certainly products of the Beaminster potteries and are the first to be identified archaeologically.