|
|
 Log in |
Register
|
|
|
England
Winterbourne Poor LotRound Barrow(s)
|
Show map (inline Google Map)
|
|
|
Images (click to view fullsize) |
 Add an image |
|
Fieldnotes |
Add fieldnotes |
|
[visited 11/9/4] Quick look about after hearing of a metal detector in the Dorchester area digging into barrows. No real sign here, but a couple of the barrows have patches of bare soil, presumably from the sheep as they didn't look like shovel dug holes. I also had a quick chat with the owners of the house next door, who say they keep an eye on the place and certainly wouldn't tolerate treasure hunters. Whilst you visit Poor Lot don't forget the woods just to the East, though watch out for gamekeepers as these be pheasant woods. There is a circular banked structure just before you enter the woods to your left, it used to be in the woods, but the landowner has removed the woods to iirc turn it into pasture. I preume this is the remains of a disk? barrow, similar to one at Oakley Down cemetary, but I'm not sure. This post appears as part of the weblog entry One doesn't go mad in Dorset
|
Posted by juamei6th October 2004ce |
|
[visited 27/11/02] Ideally get to this site via the Dog kennels next door as a public footpath goes through there apparently. Though a notice on their wall implied the footpath will be moving soon. Alternatively park in the next farm track a field past the barrows and work your way back, climbing over the fence of your choice. I was amazed at the number and variation of the barrows here, not to mention the huge size of one of them. Another thing I noticed were strange parallel lines or track-ways leading up to the barrows and between them. Probably just plough marks but interesting nevertheless. |
Posted by juamei 31st December 2002ce |
|
Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows (4.9.2002) I would love to know more about these. Of all the ancient sites we visited in Dorset these were voted ˜most surprising and enigmatic". We knew nothing more than what we saw on the OS map, which shows the English Heritage symbol with the title "Poor Lot Barrows" and a landscape seemingly littered with barrows / tumuli. I still don't know much more! We couldn't find any sort of entrance or obvious place to park, so we ended up parking on the grass verge of the side road (towards Compton Valence, see below), walking back across the main road (A35) and hopping over the fence. We were pretty amazed that an English Heritage site seemed to have nothing there and made us feel like trespassers! Later I saw the English Heritage website which said there was access via Wellbottom Lodge. We couldn't see any, but at that time we weren't quite sure where we were looking and what we were looking for! I presume the Lodge is the house just off to the south of the A35, a short distance before the junction to Compton Valence (if coming from Winterbourne Abbas). Anyway, remnants of all sort of weird and wonderfully shaped barrows do litter the area, including in the field to the South West, the field to the South East (including quite a large tumulus - see photo), and the field opposite the road (to the North East). Judging by the strange shapes in the maize field to the North there may also be 'things' hiding there, but the OS map doesn't show anything. And as we were there two jet planes (they looked like American Air Force jets, not RAF?) flew very low over us and then peeled away from each other, like a personal flypast! Amazing. The English heritage website gives the following information: Opening Times: Any reasonable time Admission: Free Directions: 2 miles W of Winterbourne Abbas, S of junction of A35 with a minor road to Compton Valence. Access via Wellbottom Lodge - 180 metres (200 yards) along A35 from junction (OS Map 194; ref SY 590906) |
Posted by pure joy24th November 2002ce Edited 25th November 2002ce |
|
There are at least forty-four barrows in this Bronze Age cemetery. The barrows of many types, sizes and date, straddle the A35, Bridport to Dorchester road. |
Posted by phil 28th December 2001ce |
Links |
Add a link |
Aerial ArchaeologyCool photo and description |
Posted by phil 28th December 2001ce Edited 26th September 2007ce |
Top of page