Community archaeologists uncover the remains of Stalbridge House, home to groundbreaking scientist Robert Boyle from 1644-55.
Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group and the Stalbridge History Society have completed the excavation of the house of 17th-century scientist Robert Boyle who, along with Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, was a founder member of the Royal Society, patronised by King Charles II.
In 1643, Boyle inherited Stalbridge House from his father, Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork. It was considered the fifth largest house in the county at that time. But how big was it? Only archaeology could help to answer that question. Archaeological investigations were carried out over four seasons, ending in the summer of 2022.
Community Archaeologist Chris Tripp led the dig: “After locating the exact position of the surviving foundations we wanted to find out just how big the house was, so we concentrated on finding the corners then joining the dots”. Using geophysical survey this was accomplished and, by digging small trenches at various points, the foundations were unearthed. Much of the stone foundations had either been taken away during demolition or altered during refurbishments, but what has survived gives an approximation of the house, at maximum size, of 46m x 30m.
Two surprises from these excavations were the ‘Great Drain’ and the stone well structure. Chris explained that, “the drain was built with large slabs of stone and was a metre square and ran next to the house and down the sloping site to where a large pond was once located, next to the gate that gave access to the estate”. The well was built just after the taking down of the house and was located by the team due to a square parch mark of dead grass during the hot summer of 2018. It sat in its own little stone house and was found, by dropping a plumb bob down to the silt, to be 8m deep, although it is probably much deeper.
Stalbridge House was Robert Boyle’s main home from 1644 to 1655. Here he began his pioneering laboratory experiments into colours, respiration, disease, combustion, sound and air pressure. The latter led to his famous air pump, capable of creating and sustaining a vacuum. He also discovered the inverse relationship between the pressure and volume of a confined gas, known to the world as Boyle’s Law. Boyle was one of the leading scientists of his day and one of the most important figures in the history of scientific development, virtually founding the concept of experimental science and establishing chemistry as a science in its own right.
Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group has been helping local communities to research and develop projects for over a decade and led archaeological investigations in Maiden Newton, Nether Compton and now at Stalbridge in partnership with the very active Stalbridge History Society. They run a Facebook page and blog and can be contacted by email at tripp.chris60@gmail.com.
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