Weymouth's North Quay future not set in stone
Results of an archaeological dig could affect the future development of Weymouth's North Quay
Dorset Council says it's awaiting the results of an archaeological dig at Weymouth's North Quay site before any decisions are made about changes to the proposed redevelopment.
The former council offices are set to be transformed into 72 new homes.
But community groups called for archaeological work to be done before the demolition takes place to determine any historical significance.
That work was finished last week by Context One, a local independent Heritage and Archaeology company.
It's not currently known to what extent the report may impact proposals.
The team and Council officers were surprised at how well-preserved remains survive across some of the site. Interesting finds include:
- There was evidence for the remains of two medieval buildings in separate trenches
- In both cases, these were superseded by Georgian buildings
- The remains of 18th century buildings with Victorian and early 20th century additions were encountered in all trenches
- The partial floor plans of the later buildings were revealed just below the tarmac including dividing walls, flagstone floors, hearths, courtyard paviers, stone thresholds and drainage systems
- Historic maps and old photographs have helped identify the exact buildings along North Quay and the former High Street that were investigated during the evaluation.
Community and heritage groups, historians and residents all provided vital support to the team, helping answer questions and offering valuable local knowledge that helps Context One build a full picture of the history around the North Quay site.
All this archaeological information will now be taken away, evaluated, and put into context alongside all the other historical data and records that can be found on the area. A final report will be produced by Context One in the next few weeks, which will be shared with Dorset residents and fully considered alongside the development proposals. Once this has happened, Dorset Council will review the next steps for the North Quay and Weymouth Bowl sites.
Councillor Tony Ferrari, Weymouth resident and Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, said:
“Local interest and community groups made it clear that they wanted the opportunity to explore what lies beneath the ground atNorth Quay before demolition and redevelopment takes place, and we were happy to accommodate such activity. By working together to pool our knowledge of the area, we could make the most of this wonderful opportunity to uncover some of Weymouth’s rich history.
"I want to thank Context One and the many volunteers, residents, and local heritage groups for their support during these archaeological works. I was lucky enough to attend the dig and speak to the team on site and was fascinated by what they have unearthed. It’s heart-warming to hear of the passion and enthusiasm from the local community to fill in the knowledge gaps and help the team get a better idea of the site’s history. I’m told that the team on site even brought in volunteers to speak with passers-by while work was continuing, such was the interest of some residents.
"I’m looking forward to seeing the full report soon when we can fully consider the significance of Context One’s findings and see if/how they affect the current development proposals for the North Quay site. We will make this report available for everyone to see and, in the meantime, we’ll continue to engage with interested parties and keep everyone up to date with what is happening.”