SDO14985 - Catmead, Mill Street, Puddletown, Dorset. Rapid Archaeological Appraisal

‘Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by the Trustees of the Brymer Voluntary Settlement, through their agents Humberts Chartered Surveyors, to undertake a rapid desk-based appraisal of land at Catmead, Puddletown, Dorset (‘the Site’). The study was requested by West Dorset District Council, before determination of a planning application for proposed residential development on the Site. The Site, centred on NGR 375700 094600, is situated in the west of the village of Puddletown. The village is located some 7 km to the north east of Dorchester. The Site is currently an open pasture field which slopes gradually to the north and appears to be terraced. It lies on Upper Chalk deposits dating to the Cretaceous period. The desk-based assessment found that the Site contains earthworks that may be the remains of a water meadow system dating to the 17th century. There is also an earthwork in the east of the Site that may be the remains of an enclosure of unknown date and function. There is also potential for the Site to contain below-ground evidence of a medieval field system and prehistoric activity, both of which have been found in the field immediately to the south. The nature of the earthworks and their relationship to each other and to the remains found in the field to the south need to be investigated further.’