Watching Brief at Charminster - Puddletown 33 kV Cable Replacement

The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (ADAS, 2023c). An archaeologist was present during all intrusive groundworks associated with the easement and cable trench associated with the SSE development. Monitoring was stopped west of Haydens farm, North street due to negative results of the urban street areas. The 4.6km cable route Scheme started at Charminster Substation, Dorset (NGR SY 67314 93172) and travels to an existing electricity pole located in a grass pasture field near Puddletown, Dorset (NGR SY 70806 93146), measuring 4.6 km in length. Within the Scheme was a strip, map and sample area (Area 1), a control strip area (Area 2), a site compound (Area 3) and three monitoring areas (Areas 4 to 6). No archaeology was encountered in the strip, map and record Area 1 despite the potential for features associated with the potential medieval moated site to the north. Anecdotal conversations with the farmer said there was a football pitch in the general area of the cropmarks in the 1970's and 80's. No chalk pits were encountered within Area 2. Within the cable trench several, steep sided colluvial deposits/solution hollows were observed along. An area of made ground was also recorded.. No archaeological features were identified within the route of the cable trench in Areas 3 to 6. The construction of the roads and associated service trenches, within Area 6, would likely have removed any archaeology within the western section of the Scheme. The absence of archaeological features recorded during the monitoring may be attributed to the relatively limited ground impact of the cable trench.