Archaeology
Above : The iconic Stonehenge
Below : Trace of Roman Road on south Dorset Ridgeway. (Photo Bill Putnam) 
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For our normal speaker meetings, we meet at the Community Church Hall in Poundbury. The postcode is DT1 3DF. It is on the corner of Peverell Avenue East and Liscombe Street adjacent to Damers First School.
No 6 & 10 Buses from Dorchester stop nearby on Peverell Avenue East. There is plenty of parking on the street. Please do not park in front of the entrance - the area is not a carpark (although it looks like one !). Click here for a map it will open in a new tab or window (At the moment streetmap have not completed mapping Poundbury) Meetings start at 2pm normally on the 4th Monday of the month. However, with other outside visits and venues, times may be arranged to suit (see the programme below). At Poundbury, tea/coffee and biscuits are available for a small donation to the CCH funds To see the full Dorchester U3A Timetable click the button.
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Above : Roman Town House, Dorchester
Below : Lidar image of Frampton Roman Villa 
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Proposed Programme for 2026
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2026 dates : 26/1; 23/2; 23/3; 27/4; 1/6; 22/6; 27/7; (no August meeting); 28/9; 26/10; 23/11. (no December meeting)
Our last meeting: In January, Phil Trim of Wessex Archaeology gave an illustrated talk on A tale of two Kilns : Roman Pottery Production at Arne, Poole Harbour Our next meeting : 23rd February : A speaker meeting at the Poundbury Community Hall starting at 2pm. Peter Bellamy of Terrain Archaeology will give an illustrated talk on Graffiti from a mediaeval barn ay Winterborne Clenston 23rd March : Talks by members meeting at the Poundbury Community Hall starting at 2pm. Jenny Rains on Pterographs Annie Atherton on the Outer Herbrides Hopefully one or two more - volunteers please (anything archaeologically related !) 27th April : A visit to Martin Green's Down Farm (near Sixpenny Handley) - we plan to take picnics for lunch at 1pm before viewing the site and the museum with Martin. More details to follow. 1st June (May) : Visit to Poole Museum - details to be advised 22nd June : A speaker meeting at the Poundbury Community Hall starting at 2pm. Lilian Ladle will give an illustrated talk on The post Roman cemetery at Worth Matravers and the DNA of some of the bodies. 27th July : A speaker meeting at the Poundbury Community Hall starting at 2pm. Win Scutt will give an illustrated talk on Archaeology and English Heritage in Dorset August - No meeting 28th September : Hopefully Martin Papworth (formerly of National Trust) who will talk about the new finds at Chedworth and other Dorset sites. More details to follow. 26th October : A speaker meeting at the Poundbury Community Hall starting at 2pm. Andrea Frankham will give an illustrated talk on Research on Iron Age Portland 23rd November : To be advised - hopefully Dr Anne Teather who could not make our meeting last year. More details to be advised. Some ideas for the future in the planning stage by the steering committee are shown to the right > The Steering Committee : Annie Atherton; Barbara O'Farrell; Michael Insley & Richard Crumbleholme |
The visits & talks below are some that are being researched :
The Durotriges Project -
Miles Russell (Bmth Univ) Trip to Avebury Trip to Poole Museum Butser museum site Any members suggestions are very welcome ! |
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New members and other ideas are always welcome
– no previous knowledge is necessary For more information on our programme please call Annie or Michael (For number please see Newsletter) Updated by Richard Crumbleholme 29/01/2026
Photos / Lidar images have been taken by members of the group |
Lidar image of part of the Dorchester Roman aqueduct
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