National Grid Project 2018-2023
The National Grid VIP project :
This huge £500m project (funded by consumers nationally) was shortlisted from 12 No sites nationally. At 8km (5 miles) it was the largest project of the 4 No schemes carried out. The main driver for the project was the removal of the large National Grid pylons within the AONB that ran over the Ridgeway to feed Weymouth. It is understood that this particular supply was larger than normal as it was originally planned (in the 1950's) to serve a nuclear power station on the Fleet adjoining Chesil Beach.
The project ran from Winterbourne Abbas, through Steepleton and over the Ridgeway to Friar Waddon. Most of the archaeology was discovered on the Ridgeway itself. The Steepleton parish boundary is app
Above : A lot of archaeology was undertaken by Oxford Archaeology Ltd. This was take some years to catalogue and write up. It is understood that the finds will be deposited in the Dorset Museum finally.
Below : Photos issued by National Grid of archaeology in progress. All on the Rdgeway - precise locations obviously not disclosed.
Burnt mound excavation
Burial excavation
Roman Building excavation
Stone Age Antler Neolithic c . 5000/6000 years old
Barrow (tumuli) burial excavation
Excavation of ovens (Roman ?)
Map showing southern parish boundary in the archaeology area.