SDO15547 - Archaeological observation and recording at Frome House, Wareham, Dorset

Observations and recording during digging of a service trench and footings for an extension to Frome House, built in the 1950s outside and opposite the southern bank of Wareham’s Saxon earthen defensive walls. The house is on alluviums of the River Frome terrace, which most of the gardens south of the house are situated on reclaimed land which until the later 19th century had been a side channel and island in the river. The remains of a clay pipe kiln were exposed in the north end of the trench where parts of the internal structure were seen in spoil heaps and nearly 2000 pieces of clay pipe wasters retrieved. Subsequently a magnetometer survey identified three areas of possible kiln activity.