ARCHAEOLOGISTS are calling for medieval steps in Weymouth to be preserved for future generations after rejection by Historic England - with fears they could be lost forever.

Chapelhay Steps in Weymouth, located between the street of the same name and the former North Quay council office site, were covered in the undergrowth and hidden before being revealed by Mark Vine and his team in 2019.

Mr Vine, an author and former historian who represents a volunteer-led archaeology group, says the site needs to be preserved because of the amount of history that unfolded there including an important battle at the bottom of the steps in the English Civil War - the Crabchurch Conspiracy.

“We tried to get it listed and they wouldn't do it. There's the old steps that are in the undergrowth and the slopes at the back of the offices, they're 12th century and irreplaceable,” said Mr Vine.

In addition to the steps there is a stone post, which is currently located in the North Quay car park, and is believed to have been part of the gate which the Cavaliers smashed through during the battle.

He said: “One of the stone posts where the gate was is under threat, you get cars parked right up against it. We've asked various councillors to get a gate put around it with no luck.

“It may just be a lump of shaped stone, but it's mediaeval and is part of Weymouth’s history - why lose it because some idiot smashes into it?”

Previously Mr Vine was part of a team that carried out an excavation at the North Quay site, home to the former council offices, with a number of historical gems unearthed. Hundreds of people recently turned out for an exhibition of the findings.

The former archaeologists believe those people have got the same mentality, to ‘save it for future generations’.

He added: “What remains of that story (the Crabchurch Conspiracy) should be explored and saved.”

Having applied to get the site listed three years prior to fully uncovering the steps in 2019, Historic England declined Mr Vine's application.

A spokesperson for Historic England said: “The circumstances of Chapelhay Steps did not fall into any of the three categories used by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to prioritise designation resources on those sites that are most in need of protection. Those categories are threat, strategic priority or evidence of significance.”

The organisation also said it is worth noting the steps are within a conservation area and would already be afforded a 'degree of protection’.