SDO14668 - Church of St Mary the Virgin, Charminster, Dorset. Archaeological Watching Brief Report.

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by the Parochial Church Council of St Mary the Virgin Church to undertake an archaeological watching brief during repair works at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, West Hill, Charminster, Dorset, hereafter ‘the Site’. The Site is centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) 473050 172000. The watching brief was completed over four separate days (04/01/2016-22/01/2016). An undated layer of levelling material was observed beneath the lifted floor containing scattered fragments of bone and a coffin handle. The top of a brick crypt was observed in the north aisle and a lead coffin with a brick surround within the south aisle. In the area exposed outside the church a modern pipe and soakaway were uncovered, as well as a grave cut to the west. All fragments of bone recovered from within the church and outside were reburied on site.’