SDO11418 - St Leonards Chapel, Blandford Forum, an Archaeological Evaluation of the Structural Foundations (Interim Statement)

Bournemouth Polytechnic carried out an archaeological evaluation of the structural foundations of St Leonard's Chapel, Blandford Forum during December 1991. The evaluation comprised the excavation of a single 2m x 2m trench alongside the north wall of the building, with the SE corner of the trench positioned in the angle formed by western concrete buttress and the north wall close to the north door. The excavation revealed a substantial service trench containing a glazed service pipe jointed on to a brick structure which may have functioned as an inspection chamber for the service pipe. This service trench had caused significant modern disturbance and continued under the floor of the chapel. The service trench cut through potentially 15th century layers containing flint knapping debris from the construction of the chapel walls. Chalk rubble foundations for the chapel were also revealed.