Landscape Improvement Project, Godlingston Hall, Ulwell, Swanage, Dorset - Archaeological Watching Brief

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake an archaeological watching brief during the excavations associated with the replacement of the current overhead 11kV and 33kV electricity cables with underground cables as part of a landscape improvement programme.

The trenches into which the new cables were to be laid were to be excavated by means of a mole plough. In consultation with the National Trust Archaeologist, it was determined that an archaeological watching brief would be undertaken in advance of the mole plough operation to monitor the excavation of the launch and exit pits at the points for the setting in and removing of the plough as the site falls within an area of archaeological interest. Due to the nature of operation of the mole plough it was not a requirement for the mole plough excavation itself to be monitored.

Further monitoring for the excavation for the footprint of a new substation was also undertaken. Despite the archaeological potential of the site no archaeological features or deposits were identified. A small quantity of 19th century and modern pottery and glass was recovered from the vicinity of trench 15, in proximity to a known post-medieval cottage of a cottage at Forked Down Bottom. The low level of identified archaeological activity is however influenced by the limited scope and impact of the monitored works.

As a result of the limited scope of the groundworks and depth of excavation required the natural geology was only exposed in two of the excavated pits. However, aside from Trenches 6, 10, 11, 14 and 15 where areas of made ground were revealed all the other trenches were able to establish that beneath the topsoil there was an intact subsoil which overlay a colluvial layer. Therefore, despite no archaeology being revealed within the monitored trenches there remains the potential for archaeology to be present within the wider landscape at a depth extending beyond the scope and depth of these works.