SDO15408 - Old Shire Hall, High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset. Archaeological Monitoring and Recording.

‘Context One Archaeological Services Ltd (COAS) was instructed to carry out archaeological monitoring and recording as a condition of planning permission for the re-purposing of the Old Shire Hall, Dorchester, Dorset, into a visitor centre. The project was commissioned by Philip Hughes Associates on behalf of the developer, West Dorset District Council (WDDC). The Old Shire Hall is situated in the centre of Dorchester, and therefore within the boundary of the Romano-British and medieval town. There are also extensive prehistoric remains in the immediate area. Shire Hall was constructed in 1797 on the site of a previous Shire Hall, and from the mid-20th century until 2013 was used as offices for local government. Previous evaluation work on the Site in 2012 indicated that the area had probably been terraced into the chalk prior to the construction of the building, reducing the likelihood of earlier archaeological features and deposits being present. However, it was considered likely that evidence relating to the construction and use of the Shire Hall itself may be disturbed by the conversion works. Observations in the cellar, lift shaft, and trial pits identified four foundation piers, relieving arches, and a large pit, probably a latrine associated with the 19th century use of the building. The material filling the pit comprised early to mid-19th century glass, pottery, building materials, animal bone, iron objects and clay pipe. The nature of the material suggests that it was sourced from a nearby rubbish dump to back fill the pit when it became redundant. Several of the building elements observed were constructed directly on the natural chalk. It therefore seems that the construction of the building was indeed likely to have removed any evidence of the Romano-British or medieval town, or earlier prehistoric activity, which might have been expected in this area.’