Chance

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A bowl barrow in Scrubbity Coppice, one of a group excavated by Pitt Rivers in 1882-3. Pitt Rivers’ barrow ix (RCHME’s Sixpenny Handley 43, Grinsell’s Handley 1), it was excavated between December 15th and 31st 1882. Prior to excavation, it was visible as a mound 52 feet in diameter and 4.5 feet maximum height. Excavation showed it to be surrounded by a ditch 5 feet wide at the top. At the centre was a wooden boat-shaped coffin, cut from a single trunk. Circa 4 feet 2 inches by 1 foot 9 inches, it was orientated northwest-southeast and contained a sigle cremation deposit. Pitt Rivers stated that the coffin rested in a pit (“hole”) circa 1 foot deep dug into the chalk below the mound. However, the published section appears to show the coffin placed in the top of a small primary mound of chalk rubble and earth. Other finds from the barrow mound included a flint knife, a flint axehead, 595 flint flakes and some potsherds. [NB this record formerly contained details of all barrows in the Scrubbity Coppice. These have now been recorded separately – see associated monument records]

(Centred ST 972178) Scrubbity Barrows (NR). Scrubbity Barrows; a group of round barrows all excavated, but most partially, by General Pitt-Rivers. Pitt-Rivers reconstituted the barrows which he dug. Details are as follows:-
(A) ST 97251788. Bowl barrow 52ft in diameter by 4ft high (Pitt-Rivers ix). It contained a primary crouched cremation in a boat-shaped tree-trunk coffin. A flint knife and axe and hundreds of flint flakes were found in the mound.

(B) ST 97231790. See ST 91 NE 93.
(C) ST 97221787. See ST 91 NE 94.
(D) ST 97211788. See ST 91 NE 95.
(E) ST 97211789. See ST 91 NE 96.
(F) ST 97251787. See ST 91 NE 97.
(G) ST 97171790. See ST 91 NE 98.
(H) ST 97171789. See ST 91 NE 99.
(J) ST 97201786. See ST 91 NE 100. (2-3)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

ST 92512070. A bowl barrow at Win Green Clump, 12 paces in diameter and 1 1/2 feet in height, is the ‘Beacnes hlawe’ (= Beacon Barrow) (1) mentioned in charters of AD 955 and 958 (2). It is shown on Colt-Hoare’s map. (1-3) ST 92512069 A small bowl barrow, 10.0m in diameter, and 0.5m high with a central mutilation; there is no visible ditch. It lies within the prominent circular beech clump on the summit of Win Green Hill.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(ST 93892046) Mound (NAT). A mound, on Berwick Down, 16 paces in diameter and 3 1/2 feet high, is described by Grinsell in 1937 (2) as a ditched bowl barrow with three trees on the mound. In 1957, however, he refers to the OS published description of it as ‘mound’ and queries whether it is a barrow or a mound of recent date (3). It is visible on air-photographs mainly as a circular ditch. (2-4) A flat-topped barrow, 15.0m in diameter and varying from 0.5 to 1.4m in height above the east to west hill-slope. There are only traces of a ditch. ST 93892045. A bowl barrow on Berwick Drove. The flat-topped barrow mound is terraced into the slope. It measures 15 metres in diameter, up to 1 metre high on the downhill side and about 0.3 metres high on the uphill side. A slight depression in the top of the mound may represent unrecorded past excavation. The quarry ditch surrounding the barrow survives as a depression 3 metres wide and 0.4 metres deep, except on the western side where it is no longer visible. Scheduled.

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

A Neolithic long barrow located south of Chettle House, and situated at the top of a gentle south-east facing slope on a low spur. Listed by RCHME as Chettle 16 and by Grinsell as Chettle I. Orientated east-northeast by west-southwest, RCHME described the mound as being 320 feet long, 65 feet wide and 8 feet high. The western end has suffered badly from plough damage. Two recorded episodes of excavations have only discovered secondary burials and objects, some suggested to be of early to middle Saxon in date. The barrow was dug into at the beginning of the 18th century, apparently by (or rather for) the Countess of Temple. According to Hutchins (1813), “an opening was made in the side of this barrow,...and beneath the level of the surface of the field a great quantity of human bones were found, and with them heads of spears, and relics of other warlike instruments, which were presented to the Earl of Pembroke, and are at this time at Wilton House” [note that this quote, taken from Banks 1900, differs slightly from that given by Warne]. Banks’ (1900) diary of 1767 differs slightly in detail. The barrow had been opened about 40 years previously, when “one opening at the Eastern end...carried down a little way below the surface of the real Ground, when he found many Bones, Brass heads of Spears and some Coin...The other, situate about one third of the whole Length of the Barrow, more to the westward, was never carried deep enough. so nothing was discovered in it.” Warne also quotes Hutchins as follows: “About 1776, the sheep having made a scrape on the side of this barrow, near the summit, and the earth having moulded away, a human skeleton was discovered: it lay on its back, was four feet long, and was quite perfect, though remarkably small, and quite even – judged to have been a female. It was not more than one foot beneath the sod.”

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

A Neolithic long barrow, located on the boundary between Chettle and Tarrant Gunville (the boundary running along the length of the mound), on a gentle east-facing slope. Listed by RCHME as Cettle 15 and by Grinsell as Chettle II. Orientated southeast-northwest, RCHME described it as a mound 190 feet long, 65 fet wide and 9 feet high. An oval hollow 165 feet long, 48 feet wide and 2 feet deep along the northeastern side is presumed to represent a side ditch. A shallower hollow was just visible along the other side. Sometime before 1767, numerous human bones were found when part of the barrow was removed to make a grotto “for the gratification of the eccentric Bubb Doddington, first and only Lord melcombe” (Drew and Piggott 1936). According to Banks’ (1900) diary of 1767, “A small part of one end was within the pail that had been opend [sic], and a grotto made in the hollow. We were told that when it was opend a number of Bones were found. I was exceedinly [sic] desirous of opening the other end, which was in a sheep walk without the pails, but upon inquiring whose property it was, had the mortification to be told that it belongd [sic] to an estate now upon sale, the Owner of which was in London; was therefore obligd [sic] to give over all thoughts of it”. According to Hutchins (1813), the parish boundary also represented a property boundary, obe half of the barrow belonging to the Marquis of Buckingham. It was one end of his part that “was formerly taken into Lord Melcombe’s park [hence the “pails”], and was excavated to make a grotto: many human bones were dug out, but immediately interred again by his lordship’s orders.”

Details of barrow on Pastscape

ST 88551562. A Bronze Age bowl barrow, known as Folly Barrow, located on Bareden Down. The barrow mound measures 16 metres in diaemter and stands 2 metres high. It is surrounded by the remains of a ditch, now visible as a depression 2 metres wide and up to 0.3 metres deep. The barrow lies within an area of prehistoric field system which has been levelled by ploughing.

Details of barrow group on Pastscape

A Bronze Age round barrow cemetery, comprising 1 bell barrow, 1 saucer barrow, 1 pond barrow, 5 disc barrows, and 10 bowl barrows. Most were excavated in the early 19th century by Colt Hoare, and several still stand as substantial earthworks. Seven of the barrows are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (also described in SU 13 NW 106, 107, 109-114). Ten of the barrows are situated in a small wood and survive as earthworks. One of the barrows (also described in SU 13 NW 115) has been ploughed level but is not visible on aerial photographs. The barrow cemetery is situated on an east facing slope between 90m and 103m above OD. The barrows have a roughly east west alignment but do not have a neat linear arrangement. A round barrow (described in SU 13 NW 33) could be an outlier and is situated 140m to the south of the group. The Lake Down barrow cemetery is also situated 400m to the south of the barrow cemetery. Individual monument records for each barrow have been created, see SU 13 NW 98-114.

Details of barrow group on Pastscape

A Bronze Age round barrow cemetery survives as earthworks on Lake Down. The cemetery comprises 10 round barrows; including bowl barrows, pond barrows and disc barrows. The cemetery was surveyed at a scale of 1:1000 in May 2009 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. It was also included in the Stonehenge WHS Mapping Project, using aerial photographs. Several of the barrows were excavated by Mr Edward Duke of Lake House in the early 19th century, although it is difficult to relate his notes to the individual barrows. See the individual barrow records for further details.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A Bronze Age bowl barrow, listed by Grinsell as Wilsford 87. The barrow was surveyed by RCHME in 1992. 36 metres in diameter and 4.4 metres high, it is surrounded by a ditch and slight external bank. The mound profile is stepped, suggestive of a second conical mound having been built on top of the original more rounded Bronze Age mound. The sharp profile of the ditch suggests that this too is of recent origin and probably provided the material for the conical mound, although the ditch too may have prehistoric origins. The second mound was probably constructed to provide a prospect from which to admire the landscaped view around Lake House (SU 13 NW 37, 81). The RCHME survey also noted three further barrows in the vicinity (SU 13 NW 93-5). Scheduled. The barrow has been recorded on aerial photographs.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A Bronze Age round barrow, suggested to be a bowl barrow, is one of a pair of mounds situated on Frome Hill, 520 metres west of Frome Farm. The barrow mound, which is scheduled and has been taken out of cultivation, measures 16 metres in diameter and 1.8 metres high. Aerial photography and ground survey have been unable to confirm the presence of a surrounding ditch, although it seems probable that one exists.

Details of Disc barrow on Pastscape

A probable disc barrow, listed by Grinsell as Winterborne St Martin 3 (in his list of bowl barrows) and by RCHME as Winterborne St Martin 111. Part of a barrow cemetery (see SY 69 SW 49 and associated monuments), in 1981 the Ordnance Survey recorded it as a mound 14 metres in diameter and circa 0.5 metres high, surrounded by an outer bank enclosing an area 30 metres in diameter (measured from the top of the bank) The bank was only visible as an earthwork on the south and east sides only. RCHME had previously noted a ring ditch surrounding the mound visible on air photographs as a cropmark circa 80 feet in diameter. This barrow was originally recorded as part of SY 69 SW 49. That record should be consulted for additional sources and information.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

A group of five round barrows running in an irregular east-west line on the crest of a ridge immediately south of the A35 (Roman road RR 4f). They are listed by Grinsell as Winterborne St Martin 6, 7, 8, 8c and 8d, and by RCHME as Winterborne St Martin 114-118. RCHME suggest that two of this group were excavated by Sydenham and Warne in 1839-40 (see SY 69 SW 90 and 91), whereas Grinsell attributed these excavations to the Rew barrow group (SY 69 SW 49 and associated monuments). Both RCHME and Grinsell note that 2 of the barrows in this Third Milestone group were excavated by E Cunnington in 1885, though again it is not clear which barrows he actually dug into. Grinsell assigned these excavations different barrow numbers (Winterborne ST Martin 8a and 8b) whilst acknowledging that it was probably 2 of the barrows already recorded by him that had been dug into (!). Cunnington found that both of the barrows had been dug into previously, perhaps by Sydenham and Warne. One contained the remains of a large cairn (a central cairn of flints covered by earth and chalk was a common feature of barrows excavated in the vicinity by Sydenham and Warne) plus two inhumations and sherds of three pottery vessels. The other contained a smaller cairn, within which were “parts of a skeleton”. All 5 barrows were previously recorded here (see description). All have now been recorded separately (see associated monument records).

Details of Burial Chamber on Pastscape

(SY 61408968) Burial Chamber (NR)(rems of) (NAT). (1) SY 61418970. An almost destroyed long barrow, possibly oriented
east to west with two large stones at the east end the remains of a mound. (2) Stones, possibly remains of chambered long barrow (SY 61408968) marked `cromlech` on some maps lie 400 ft above OD on a steep south east facing slope, now in pasture. One large sarsen, an iregular oblong 8 ft by 4 3/4 ft and 1 1/4 ft above ground, lies in the shoulder of a rounded scarp some 2 ft high. A second sarsen, 4 ft across and 1 ft 8 ins deep, projects from the scarp 5 ft to the east. Three small boulders can be seen between these large stones. Warne listed this site among `destroyed cromlechs` describing `one large stone apparently the capstone with two or three others.... in a confused heap`.The stones may not be in situ since the area was once part of the arable fields of Winterbourne Steepleton and the scarp is in part a lynchet ploughed down since enclosure.(3) SY 61408967. The two large stones noted by RCHM (3) are all that remain; they measure 2.7m by 1.5m. by 0.7m. and 1.4m. by by 0.6m. The scarp has been ploughed continuously and is now barely discernible. Published Survey (1:2500) Correct (4) The site lies at SY 6140 8967, on the edge of a dry valley which runs into the valley of the South Winterbourne, northeast of Coombe Farm. The remains comprise a slight, much ploughed, ovoid mound, orientated NE-SW, 17m long and 13m wide. Two large, recumbent sarsens lie on the south edge of the mound, as described by authy 4. The field has evidently been ploughed for many years: it once formed part of the open fields of Winterbourne Steepleton and it was arable land in the mid-19th century (Winterbourne Steepleton tithe map and award, 1841) (5). The site was surveyed using differential GPS at a scale of 1: 200 as part of a survey of the long barrows on the South Dorset Ridgeway carried out by English Heritage and the Ridgeway Survey Group (6).

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(Centred at SY 65138798) Tumuli (NR) (twice) (1)
Four Barrow Hill Group. Six barrows, including two probable bells in south-west to north-east line on top of a broad spur.
All have been ploughed.
‘A’ Bowl (?) (65078787). Diam. 78 ft., ht. 4 1/2 ft.
‘B’ Bowl (?) (65108793) 60 yds. N.E. of ‘A’ Diam. 93 ft., ht. 5 ft.
‘C’ Bell (?) (65138798) 70 yds. N.E. of ‘B’ Diam. 97 ft., ht. 6 ft.
Ditch-circle, about 190 ft. in diam., visible on V.A.P. CPE/UK 1934, 3091.
‘D’ Bowl (?) (65148795) immediately adjacent to ‘C’ on S.E. Ploughed almost flat.
‘E’ Bowl (?) (65148804) 70 yds. N. of ‘C’ Diam. 106 ft., ht. 6 ft. Crossed by hedge.
‘F’. Bell (?) (65188808) 60 yds. N.E. of ‘E’. Ploughed almost flat. Ditch 140 ft. in diam., apparently separated from mound by berm about 15 ft. wide, visible on V.A.P. CPE/UK 1934, 3091. (2-4)
‘A’ SY 65068787. Bowl barrow, diameter approximately 30.0m, height 1.0m.
‘B’ SY 65098792. Bowl barrow, diameter approximately 30.0m, height 1.3m.
‘C’ SY 65138797. Bell (?) barrow, diameter approximately 40.0m, height 2.4m. Large size suggests a bell but there is no trace of berm nor ditch.
‘D’ No visible remains – ploughed out.
‘E’ SY 65158803. Bowl barrow, diameter approximately 40.0m, height 2.5m.
‘F’ SY 65178808. Bell (?) barrow, ploughed almost flat, diameter 28.0m approximately, height 0.3m, no trace of berm.
All the barrows are in arable and have been ploughed. None has a visible ditch.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

A group of 6 bowl barrows located at Rew, listed by Grinsell as Winterborne St Martin 2, 2a, 3, 3a, 4 and 5, and by RCHME as Winterborne St Martin 108-113. All were previously described as part of this record (see description) but have now been recorded individually (see associated monument records). According to RCHME, 2 of these barrows (including SY 69 SW 50) were excavated in 1839-40 by Sydenham. One is Grinsell’s Winterborne St Martin 5a and Winterborne Steepleton 4c. In fact, as Grinsell has noted, the latter cannot be part of this group if Sydenham’s locational information is accurate (it is Sydenham’s number 5). Grinsell instead regards all of his Winterborne St Martin 5a-c as probably being identifiable with any of the Rew group (again including SY 69 SW 50, a little to the south) whereas RCHME suggest that 5b (SY 69 SW 91) and 5c (SY 69 SW 90) probably fall within the nearby “Third Milestone Group” (see SY 69 SW 51 and associated records).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A bell barrow, part of a cluster of monuments located north of Maiden Castle (see associated monument records). The barrow is listed by Grinsell as Winterborne Monkton 1b and by RCHME as Winterborne Monkton 6. Described by Grinsell as the largest bell barrow in Dorset, in 1980 the Ordnance Survey measured it at 7 metres high, with a mound 56 metres in diameter separated from the ditch by a berm 5 metres wide, the overall diameter of the monument being circa 76 metres. It was also noted that “on the NE side the ditch appears to have been destroyed and a ‘false ditch’ created by modern ploughing”. Excavation in 1862 found a stone cist containing an inhumation in the top of the mound. A Romano-British date has been assumed for this secondary burial. RCHME noted that the field name “Great Barrow Field” probably referred to this barrow. The barrow is scheduled. This monument was formerly described as part of SY 68 NE 26. That record should be consulted for additional sources and information.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(SY 68548844) Herringston Barrow (NR) (SY 68478842) Tumulus (NR) (1)
‘A’ Bowl Barrow (SY 68498843) on W-E ridge above 300 ft. Diam. 38 ft., ht. 5 1/2 ft. Slightly flattened on top and crossed by
boundary with former parish of Fordington. ‘B’ Herringston Barrow, bowl barrow (SY 68548844) Diam about 77 ft., Ht. 6
ft. Much damaged, and crossed by same boundary as the above. Opened in 1880 by Cunnington who found a primary (?) contracted
inhumation under a cairn, in which was possibly a cremation with part of a flint or stone axe. (2-3)
‘A’ SY 68478842. Bowl barrow, diameter 11.0m, height 1.6m No visible ditch.
‘B’ SY 68548844.An elongated mound known as Herringston Barrow, impossible to equate with the RCHM description but so mutilated and spread that it is difficult to determine its function and precise limits. It is 66.0m long and 15.0m wide at its maximum, and height 1.5m; a boundary bank runs along its long axis (approximately E-W). It may be the remnants of a severely mutilated long barrow.
‘C’ SY 68538842. A ploughed down mound in arable – a probable bowl barrow. Diameter 20.0m approximately, height 0.8m.
‘A’ and ‘C’ re-surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD.
‘B’ surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD.(4)

Conygar Hill Hengiform Ring

Details of Hengiform ring on Pastscape – Monument No. 1431045

Hengiform ring to the north of Conygar Hill excavated in 1987 in advance of the construction of the Dorchester By-pass. It lies falsecrested below steeper gradients of the east-west ridge and commanded uninterrupted views to the north and west. The ring is 15m in diameter, and had 8 kidney-shaped pits, generally 3m long, 2m wide, and 0.5m deep. One contained a cenral post-hole 0.85m in diameter and 0.5m deep. The pits enclosed a setting of eight posts, each circa 0.85m dwide and 0.15m deep. Sherds of Peterborough Ware were present in the upper fills, with antler and animal bones in the basal fills.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Two bowl barrows aligned east-west on Conygar Hill. The barrows each have a mound composed of earth and chalk, with maximum dimensions of 29 metres and 30 metres in diameter respectively and about 3 metres in height. Each mound is surrounded by a quarry ditch which have become infilled over the years, but each will survive as a buried feature 3 metres wide. The barrows were partially excavated by E Cunnington in the late 19th century. The eastern barrow was found to contain a primary contracted inhumation burial associated with a food vessel and six flint arrowheads. Three secondary cremations associated with a bucket urn lay above a large block of Portland limestone. The western barrow contained an inhumation and cremation burials. The finds are now held in Dorset County Museum. Scheduled.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A large round barrow abutting the enclosure bank of the Mount Pleasant henge (SY 78 NW 3) on its western side. The barrow has been damaged to a certain extent by the encroachment of gardens, and it is covered by a coppice of trees. The only known excavation occurred in 1970-71, when parts of the ditch and mound were examined in the course of work focused primarily on the henge. This suggested that the barrow mound had been 30 metres in diameter and 4 metres high, on top of a henge enclosure bank itself circa 4 metres high. On the north and east sides at least the barrow was surrounded by a penannular ditch which featured at least one causeway and stopped short of the main henge enclosure ditch. An antler pick from the primary fill of the ditch produced a radiocarbon date in the early 3rd millennium BC (calibrated), and was presumed by the excavator to represent a residual item associated with the henge rather than the barrow’s construction. However, Sparey-Green (1994) has argued that on the basis of the stratigraphical evidence presented in Wainwright’s (1979) excavation report, the barrow’s ditch may well pre-date the henge ditch, and thus be of later Neolithic origin. Flints plus a Beaker sherd and a Bronze Age sherd were also found. Re-evaluation of the Conquer Barrow’s relationship with Mount Pleasant, following detailed study of aerial photographs of the latter, supports the idea that the ditch at least may have pre-dated the henge enclosure.

Details of henge on Pastscape

A large henge enclosure, partially extant as an earthwork, located on the southeast side of Dorchester. The site comprises a ditch and outer bank defining an irregular sub-oval area, the enclosure circuit being interrupted by four entrances. The maximum external diameter of the site is around 370 metres. Some excavation was undertaken in 1970-71 by G Wainwright. The principal features noted in the interior were a substantial circular post-hole structure comprising five concentric circles of post holes within a ditch circa 43 metres in diameter. The ditch was open to the north. In a second phase, the timber structures appear to have been replaced by central cove-like setting of standing stones. The main enclosure earthworks were themselves supplemented by construction of a palisade trench within and concentric to the inner side of the ditch. This palisade featured just two very narrow entrance gaps, each defined by massive post holes. The palisade enclosed an area of circa 245 metres by 270 metres. Analysis of aerial photographs has revealed more detail, including at least one additional entrance, a possible earlier phase of enclosure marked out by pits, evidence that part of the henge bank was heightened, traces of external ditches, and a possible approach from the River Frome to the northeast. Finds from Wainwright’s excavations included Grooved Ware sherds from primary levels in the henge ditch. Slightly later were Beaker sherds and a decorated flat bronze axe from the north terminal of the ditch. Sporadic post-Bronze Age activity included a circular Iron Age structure and two Saxon burials. Both burials were extended inhumations. One was accompanied by an iron knife and may be 7th century in date.The Conquer Barrow (SY 78 NW 3) overlies the henge earthworks on the western side.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Two Bronze Age bowl barrows visible as earthworks on Whitcombe Hill. The one to the south west has a diameter of 28 metres and a height of 3 metres. It has a flat top with a diameter of 4 metres. The barrow is thickly overgrown and bisected by a parish boundary bank. The second barrow to the north east has been ploughed-down. It has an approximate diameter of 20 metres and a maximum height of 1 metre. Scheduled.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

Bronze Age bowl barrow on Black Down. It measures 8m meters in diameter and 0.35 meters high. Grinsell noted the presence of cross trenches, which he suggested either represented an excavation, or the use of the barrow as a windmill mound. Thus it may have been the barrow excavated by Cunnington in 1878. However, Cunnington described that barrow as being about 100 yards north of the Hardy Monument, which this barrow is not and there is no known barrow is 100 yards north of the Hardy Monument. Cunnington is usually presumed to have excavated barrow SY 68 NW 122, which is the right distance from the monument, but south rather than north. Part of a larger barrow cemetery. Scheduled.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

Bronze Age bowl barrow (Winterborne St Martin 141) located within the area enclosed by Maiden Castle hillfort (SY 68 NE 7), towards the western end of its interior. It is still extant as an earthwork 20 metres in diameter and 0.7 metres high. It has a central depression indicative of early excavation, but no record of any such activity survives. However, it has been suggested by Mortimer Wheeler that the barrow (SY 68 NE 105) which Cunnington claimed to have excavated at “the East end” of Maiden Castle was in fact this one.

Details of Bank Barrow on Pastscape

Neolithic long mound some 546 metres in length, comprising a bank of earth between two parallel ditches. The ditches are 19.5 metres apart. It follows a slightly curving east-west course across the interior of Maiden Castle. Richard Bradley had suggested that the section of the bank barrow immediately west of the earliest Iron Age rampart (and thus just outside the causewayed enclosure (SY 68 NE 7)) had originally been a more conventional long barrow before being considerably extended in both directions. The RCHME survey appears to support this: this section of the barrow, 65 metres long and 15 metres wide, is considerably higher than the remainder of the monument. However, only excavation could demonstrate chronological precedence for any given section of the monument. The three elements of the monument also show differing alignments, and are separated by sections without a bank. The contour survey shows that for the whole of its length the barrow is set on a false crest, varying from some 10 to 20 metres north of the summit of the ridge, suggesting that it was deliberately. It appears not to have performed a funerary function, but may have acted rather as a symbolic barrier or territorial divide. It has been excavated on at least three occasions – by Mortimer Wheeler in the mid-1930s, by RJC Atkinson in 1951, and by N Sharples in 1985-6. It was surveyed by RCHME in 1984-5 by RCHME. Wheeler encountered some post holes, which he felt were Neolithic and therefore associated with the barrow structure. Two intrusive Saxon inhumations were also found just below the surface at the east end of the barrow. One was a supine burial with its head to the west. Grave goods including a seax and knife were recovered and indicate a seventh or eigth-century date for this burial. The second burial had been mutilated and dismembered, and did not have any grave goods. Radiocarbon dating suggests a 7th-9th century date for this burial.

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

A long barrow extant as an earthwork and located immediately northwest of Maiden Castle (SY 68 NE 7 and associated records), on the northeast-facing slope of a ridge, overlooking the Frome valley. The barrow is listed by Grinsell as Winterborne Monkton 1 and by RCHME as Winterborne Monkton 3. There is no record of any excavation having been undertaken. Orientated north northwest – south southeast, in 1980 the Ordnance Survey recorded it as a mound 27 metres by 9 metres and surviving to a maximum height of 0.5 metres on the downhill side, with no visible traces of ditches. In 1955, an Ordnance Survey field investigator had described the mound then as being 36 metres long and 18 metres wide, with a ditch 5 metres wide and 0.4 metres deep on the north side. The ditch on the south side was not visible. The higher, broader end was to the southeast where it measured up to 1.7 metres high. Plough damage was already well-advanced, and the mound appeared to have a “heavy chalk content throughout...and at the eastern end there is a sizeable heap of large flint nodules as though a cairn had been disturbed.Among the flints are small pieces of “alien” sandstone conglomerate and fragments of calcined bone”. Air photographs taken in the 1930s appear to show a narrow mound with unusually tapered ends, though this may have been a product of ploughing and other agricultural activity. Scheduled.

Maiden Castle Causewayed Enclosure

Details of causewayed enclosure on Pastscape – Monument No. 1537734

The Early Neolithic causewayed enclosure at Maiden Castle occupies only the eastern part of the hill, and has an approximate area of 8 hectares, making it one of the larger examples in England. It is overlain by a large Iron Age hillfort which has restricted investigation of the Neolithic remains. The west side of the Neolithic enclosure is overlain by the long mound, a 500 metre-long earthwork. Wheeler identified that the earliest phase of the hillfort followed the line of two concentric circuits of causewayed ditch. The inner ditch contained several episodes of filling and substantial numbers of artefacts. In 1985-6 surveys of the hill and its environs raised the possibility that a north-east to south-west earthwork running into the west hillfort entrance may originally have been a freestanding cross-ridge dyke. A third, outermost Neolithic ditch may also exist 30 metres outside the known outer ditch. A further `Neolithic mound’ of unknown extent may lie yet farther east. Early Neolithic pits around the eastern hillfort entrance and the east end of the long mound, were shown to extend south-west of the hillfort. The manufacture of flint axeheads and other large core tools on the site was confirmed. The assemblages from nearby sites strongly suggest that axehead-making was focused at Maiden Castle. Recent research has concluded that the enclosure at Maiden Castle began to be built probably in the 3550s or 3540s cal BC. It is possible that the two circuits were dug in the same year, almost certainly within a single generation. The enclosure ditches filled up quickly, both ditches were filled probably by 3550-3530 cal BC. The use of the enclosure was remarkably short, lasting no more than a single generation. Indeed the outer ditch may have been infilled possibly in less than a year. It is probable that the outer ditch of the causewayed enclosure had been dug and had filled up by the time the long mound was constructed.

Details of one barrow on Pastscape – Monument No. 1457331

A Bronze Age bowl barrow on Grimstone Down. It is part of a barrow cemetery comprising eight barrows and survives as an elongated earthwork measuring 17 metres northeast-southwest by 12.8 metres northwest to southeast and about 1.6 metres high. The barrow is listed as Stratton Number 4 by Grinsell (1959), Barrow Number 15a by RCHME (1952) and as Barrow F by the Ordnance Survey.

Details of one barrow on Pastscape – Monument No. 453207

A Bronze Age barrow, possibly a bowl barrow, on Grimstone Down. It is part of a barrow cemetery comprising eight barrows and survives as an earthwork up to 0.4 metres high, surrounded by a ditch 2 metres wide by 0.2 metres deep. The barrow is listed as Barrow Number 15b by RCHME (1952) and as Barrow H by the Ordnance Survey. It was not recorded by Grinsell (1959).

Details of Settlement on Pastscape

(Centred SY 644956) Settlement (NR). (1)
A settlement on Grimstone Down consisting of traces of Celtic fields covering more than 100 acres. Towards the centre of the area, the fields become more clearly defined and between the field banks several hollowed tracks converge on a series of smaller enclosures; these show no traces of dwellings but probably represent the position of the main settlement (see plan). To the east of the dyke (SY 69 NW 39) are further remains of a Celtic field system extending some distance to the south. (2)
The excavation for a reservoir on Grimstone Down in 1950 at SY 64629530 revealed that the earthworks were of lynchet construction rather than the remains of deliberately constructed banks. The only internal feature observed was a small shallow pit (or trench?) near the centre of the east face of the excavation, which contained pottery sherds. The majority of sherds, however, were found in the excavation spoil and appeared to be all of Iron Age ‘C’ type with the exception of a few Iron Age ‘A’ and possibly ‘B’ sherds. About 40 yds from the south-east corner of the reservoir, the pumping-main trench sectioned what appeared to be an ancient trackway from the settlement, running a few yards west of, and parallel to the modern trace to Jackman’s Cross. (3)
SY 64719552. Late Romano-British pottery was found during 1969-70 in material brought to the surface of a trench dug for repairing the water-main on Grimstone Down. The trench revealed at one point, a layer of flint which coincided with field banks, still intact to the north and south. Three hundred sherds of Romano-British coarse ware, two sherds of New Forest ware, twenty-one nails and a small fragment of roof-tile were found embedded in the surface of the flint layer. No evidence of earlier occupation was found below the layer and it was suggested that the flint represented the scattering of an earlier field bank in the 4th century by Romano-British occupation. (4)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(SY 72388421; SY 72438421) Tumuli (NR) (1)
‘A’ (SY 72388421) Bowl barrow, circa 45ft in diameter and 1.5ft high on crest of ridge.
‘B’ (SY 72438421) Ploughed bowl barrow of uncertain diameter but 1ft high.
Grinsell and RCHM stated that one of these barrows was probably Tumulus No 5 excavated by Warne circa 1866 at Osmington Charity Down on the Ridgeway. Warne discovered a primary cremation in a barrel-shaped urn ornamented with a chevron pattern (destroyed on exposure) which had been placed in a central cavity, 18 ins. deep, cut into the natural chalk. Two contracted secondary inhumations were also found; one situated 4ft from the summit of the mound “enclosed in a rude dome of well packed flints” and the other immediately below the surface of the barrow. (2-4)
‘A’ SY 72378421. Bowl barrow, diameter approximately 22.0m, height 1.0m. No visible ditch.
‘B’ SY 72438421. Bowl barrow, diameter approximately 22.0m, height 1.2m. No visible ditch.
Both barrows lie in arable and are considerably ploughed down.

Details of trackway on Pastscape

(ST 635038-SY 642937). A pre-Roman trackway leaves the Great Ridgeway on Batcombe Hill and extends south-south-east over Gore Hill and Ridge Hill to Crete Hill. From this point, Timperley and Brill suggested that the trackway proceeded through the settlement on Grimstone Down (SY 69 NW 38) before descending to the River Frome at Muckleford. They also supposed that the trackway originally extended further south-west from Muckleford towards Black Down, where it joined the Coastal Ridgeway. Good, however, believed that the trackway continued south-eastwards from Crete Hill towards the river at Wrackleford (SY 668928) and headed towards Maiden Castle. The route favoured by Timperley and Brill (via Muckleford to Black Down) was described by Good as part of a Medieval road from Abbotsbury to Cerne Abbas (see SY 69 SW 63) with no mention of having had pre-Roman origin. Taylor’s map of 1756 marks the trackway (as a complete road) for four miles over Gore Hill and annotates it as ‘Furzey Down Road’. (1,2)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

SY 65729939. A long barrow, orientated north to south on Smacam Down, measured 98ft long by 40ft wide and 4.5ft high at the south end. A horseshoe-shaped ditch was said to have inturned at the south end although RCHM suggested that it had been filled-in by a field boundary at this point. There was an excavation hollow in the centre of the mound with the spoil dumped in the eastern-side ditch. (2) A grass-covered long barrow, 30.0m long north to south and 16.0m wide with the higher north end being 1.7m high, although in view of mutilation it has no significant higher end. There is a surrounding ditch averaging 4.0m wide and 0.5m deep except at the south end where it has been obliterated by a lynchet. The excavation hollow mentioned in Authy 1 is as described. (3) SY 657993. Cerne Abbas long barrow listed by Ashbee who adds that this type could be termed the U-ditch class, which are of medium size, and seem to be restricted to Dorset. (4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SY 79348133) Wardstone Barrow (NR) (1) Wardstone Barrow is a bowl barrow measuring 44ft. diameter by 4 1/2 ft. (3) or 6ft. Excavation of the mound in 1867 revealed a primary cremation in an upright Late Bronze Age bucket-urn covered with a flat stone. The urn was preserved at Lulworth Castle but was destroyed by fire in 1928. (3,4)
SY 793248133. ‘Wardstone Barrow (name not confirmed) – a bowl barrow in arable but not ploughed over. Diameter 13.0m., height 1.4m. No visible ditch. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (5)

Details of stone on Pastscape

ST 64610078 A large natural boulder of irregular oval shape, 1.4m high, 1.5m wide and 0.5m thick, very weathered and moss covered. It is set on edge alongside an old trackway running due NW/SE, which here forms the boundary between Up Cerne and Sydling St Nicholas. Possibly an ancient boundary stone and/or way-mark. (1)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(SY 74698259; SY 74928260; SY 75108258; SY 75208257 Tumulus (NR) (twice) Tumuli (NR) (1)
Four bowl barrows at wide intervals in W-E line along spine of ridge above 400ft contour at Osmington.
(A) Bowl (74698259). Much damaged by gun emplacement in centre.
(B) Bowl (74928260) 270 yds. E of (A). Diam. 51 ft., ht. 5 ft., with many flints on surface. Ploughed.
(C) Bowl (75108258) 180 yds. E of (B). Diam. 51 ft., ht. 4 ft. Ploughed.
(D) Ditched bowl (?) (75208257) 90 yds. E of (C). Diam. 54 ft., ht. 2 1/2 ft. (2,3)
SY 749826. Three barrows south of Poxwell Big Wood. Scheduled. (4)
‘A’ SY 74678260. Bowl barrow in pasture. Overgrown and very mutilated. Diameter 14.0m., height 1.5m. No visible ditch.
‘B’ SY 74928260. Bowl barrow in grass, may have been ploughed over. Diameter 14.0m., height 1.0m. No visible ditch.
‘C’ SY 75098257. Bowl barrow in pasture. Diameter 15.5m., height 1.0m. No visible ditch.
‘D’ SY 75198257. Bowl barrow in pasture. Diameter 14.0m., height 0.9m. No visible ditch.
Both of these barrows (’C’) and (’D’) appear to have been ploughed down.

Details of site on Pastscape

(SY 65709940) British Settlement [NR] [Site of] (1) Field system plotted from air photographs Jan-Mar 1949. (2)
“This settlement has a four-sided enclosure (about 50 yds x 40 yds) on the E.side, with a hut circle of about 34ft. in diameter in the middle. It is surrounded by a celtic field system. The next bank to the W. of the enclosure is of heavier construction than the others and it about 5ft. high above the ditch which runs along its W. side... “The Celtic field-system extends both to the E, S and W. of the settlement, and there are further traces some 600 yds. to the N and NW. (3) Situated on the grass covered, southern slopes of the ridge and just below the crest.
There is no trace of any extensive settlement. The earthworks comprise the following:-
‘A’ Probable Hut Circle in the form of a bank, average 4.5m. wide with an inner height of 0.5m. and an outer height of 0.3m., enclosing a circular area 7.0m. diameter and with an entrance on the south side.
Enclosure. The hut circle is situated in the centre of a rectilinear enclosure formed by a bank with an outer ditch. Average dimensions of the N & W sides, bank 6.0m. wide 0.5m. high, ditch 3.0m. wide, 0.5m. deep. The south and east sides
are less pronounced. There is no trace of an entrance to the enclosure.
Possible cross ridge dyke. Extending from ‘B’ SY 65699932, to ‘C’, SY 65729950. A bank with a ditch to the west at its strongest point which is on the ridge top, and topographically and characteristically resembling a cross ridge dyke.
Maximum dimensions. Bank 7.5m. wide and 1.1m. high. Ditch 2.0m. wide and 0.8m. deep. The feature, as it extends towards its extremities down the hillside, becomes weaker.
Field system.’D’. In the area centred at SY 655993, strong lynchets and field banks form IA/RB type rectilinear enclosure.
At ‘E’ centred at SY 661993, low lynchets follow the contours. (4) 25” Survey revised. (5)
The field system on Smacam Down is now in a much reduced condition with the field banks to the south and west very poorly defined. The remainder on top of the spur is generally as described by Authys 3 & 4 though “the bank of heavier construction” is unlikely to be “a cross-ridge dyke” as it is of a sinous nature and does not transverse the spur.

Details of enclosure on Pastscape

An enclosure, known as Round Pound, situated on an elevated part of Chaldon Down. The Round Pound was recorded by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England in 1970. It is defined by a bank composed of chalk and earth, with maximum dimensions of 14 metres in width and about 1.5 metres in height. The bank is surrounded by a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument. The ditch has become infilled over the years, but is known to survive as a buried feature 7.5 metres wide. The only identifiable entrance is situated to the south of the eastern corner and includes a gap 3 metres wide. The bank and ditch enclose a slightly dished area, sub-square in plan which covers about 0.6 hectares. The interior of the enclosure is higher than the surrounding ground. The only dating evidence from the site is a sherd of Iron Age pottery with finger tip decoration. This was recovered from the western corner of the enclosure bank by RCHME staff during survey work. Scheduled.

Details of Cairn Circle on Pastscape

(SY 74528358) Cairn Circle (NR) (1)
Round Barrow (SY 74518357) situated on crest of E-W limestone ridge just under 400 ft Turf-covered mound now oval, about 63ft E-W and 44 ft N-S with almost flat top, offset to E, about 2 ft. high. On E side of top, at probable approximate centre of an original circular mound, is exposed a continuous ring of stones, 14ft. in diam. The stones are a ‘recrystallised variety of sarsen’s On S. some stand up to 2 1/2 ft. high, while on N they are virtually flush with the surface. The spaces between all are packed with small limestone rubble. The four stones peripheral to mound on the W. seem more likely to be from this circle than to belong to an outer peristalith. No ditch is visible. A later boundary bank runs along N. side. (2,3) SY 74518357. A mound as described by RCHM (2), 18.0m. by 13.5m. On top of the mound, offset to the east end, is a circle of stones, diameter 5.0m., as described by RCHM (2).

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(’A’ – SY 59959928; ‘B’ – SY 60029931) Tumuli (NR) (1)
‘A’ – SY 59969928. A mound, probably the remains of a barrow, situated 1000 yds east of Cattistock church, has been almost obliterated by ploughing. Grinsell added in 1959 that there was “No sign. Perhaps removed for flints”. (2)
‘B’ – SY 60029931. A mound, 75 yds to the south-west of ‘A’ has been destroyed by gravel digging. The mound was “vague and almost gone” according to Grinsell. (3)
‘A’ – No trace under crop. Slight surface quarrying has taken place in the area.
‘B’ – A bowl barrow, 18.0m diameter by 0.3m high, under crop with no trace of ditch.
At ‘C’ – SY 59799929 is a bowl barrow with heavy flint content measuring 16.0m diameter by 0.8m high.
At ‘D’ – SY 59749929 is another bowl barrow with a heavy flint content measuring 14.0m diameter by 0.5m high. (4)
(A: SY 59959929) Tumulus (NR) (Site of) (NAT)
(C: SY 59799928) & D: SY 59749929) Tumuli (NR)
(B: SY 60019931) Tumulus (NR) (5)
The area is now under pasture. ‘A’ has been destroyed by surface quarrying and ‘B’ has been ploughed out. ‘C’ is now 9.8m in diameter and 0.3m. high with a lynchet on its west side; ‘D’ measures 7.7m. in diameter and 0.1m high. Both ‘C’ and ‘D’ appear to be barrows.

Details of Stone Circle on Pastscape

(SY 72338706) Stone Circle (NR) (remains of) (NAT) (1) The Little Mayne stone circle is marked now only by a few scattered sarsens. Roger Gale, who visited the site in 1728 records “a circle of stone lately broke to pieces by the owner
of the land”, and “two avenues of pitcht Stones leading up to it, one from the south, the other from the east”. John Sydenham visited Little Mayne in 1847, and although his description of outer circles and avenues seems fanciful, it is
difficult to discount his record of “a complete but small circle.... composed of ten or eleven stones... about thirty feet in diameter”. Warne writes that by 1868 all had been destroyed. (2)
About fifty exposed sarsen stones lie prostrate in the area of Little Mayne Farm. It is not possible to determine if any are in situ, and no pattern of circles or avenues can be traced. Earthworks to the west and north-east of the farmhouse are probably part of the manorial establishment. (See plan, and SY 78 NW 25). (3)
The sarsens scattered around Little Mayne Farm are a natural phenomenon and form no coherent plan, despite alleged arrangements in one or more circles or avenues (one of which is certainly a Medieval road). Most have been moved. (4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[Area centred SY 69157290] From KING BARROW and in the DORSET COSUNTY MUSEUM “a quern stone found close to one or two beehive cells though to be “BHUT HOLES”. A mortar and flint balls (mulling stones) found close to one or two beehive cells. Found June 4 1898. (1) Corn [Carbonised grain] from a beehive chamber at KING BARROW. Found in a pot close to human remains.(2) KING BARROW was quarried about 1890-1900. There were considerable finds, I believe, which were taken to DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM but I know no details. The area has been quarried out and no trace of anything was found. The name KING BARROW points to the probability of a barrow of that name being situated there before quarrying began. The site is on a plateau. (4)
Two pear-shaped jars in Portland museum, Iron Age ‘C’ or Roman, came from King Barrow quarry, and a wheel-made jar of Romano-British grey ware and two 2nd century dishes are probably from the same site. (5)

Details of site on Pastscape

“Goggin’s Barrow. Applies to a prominent mound situated on edge of cliff about 15 chains northwest of Osmington Mills; supposed to be of ancient British construction” (3). (2,3) A natural mound with an east-west diameter of 16.0 metres, and a height of 0.6 metres. The mound is grass covered on the north, but the south half has been eroded, exposing its formation of 0.3 metres of topsoil upon a strata of shale. (4) Coggins Barrow on cliff edge, is natural. (5)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

Bowl barrow (SY 73528642) on end of small steep spur just over 200ft above OD and 230 yds West South West of Fryer Mayne House, West Knighton. Diameter about 40ft, height about 1.5ft overgrown. (2,3) SY 73518641. Bowl Barrow as described by RCHM (2), in private garden, diameter approximately 16.0m, and well-preserved.

Details of site on Pastscape

SY 685 694. Extensive excavations since 1967 in the fields NE of Culver Well have revealed a complex Mesolithic habitation site including a shell-midden, cooking pits, hearths and possible structural features. Charcoal from the base of the thickest part of the midden gave a C-14 date of 7150+-135 bp (BM – 473). Charcoal from a hearth 10 ft away from this midden gave a date of 7101+- 97 bp (BM – 960). (All reports are interim). (1-14)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

SY 79958199. Bush Barrow is a tree-coveed and damaged bowl barrow, 66ft diameter by 7ft high situated on the north east slope of a ridge. (2,3) Bush Barrow (name not confirmed), a bowl barrow as described by RCHM (2). Its diameter is 18.5m. and height 2.5m. there is no visible ditch.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A bowl barrow, excavated by Colt Hoare in 1803 and 1807, and originally recorded as Upton Lovell 2e by Goddard. Colt Hoare’s excavations located a primary cremation and a secondary cremation or cremations which had grave goods including gold beads, a rectangular gold plate, two small gold cones, over 1,000 amber beads and some space plates, a tonged bronze awl, grape cup, small flat bronze dagger. Some of these finds are present in Devizes Museum accession number 225-33. In 1956 the barrow was visible as a slight mound, 18 inches high, surrounded by a ditch. However field investigations in 1968 located no visible remains of the barrow.

Details of dyke on Pastscape

A dyke which cuts across the ridge, and consists of a bank with a ditch on the E. side. There are various other scarps and banks of minor importance. (1) A bank and ditch cross-dyke 160.0m long, broken by a modern main road. The bank averages 8.5m wide and 1.0m. high, and the ditch on the E. side 4.5m. wide and 0.7m deep; S of the road the ditch is 8.0m wide. On the N. side of the road the bank has been mutilated by various small diggings of apparently modern, date. The earthwork is analagous to the IA cross ridge dykes common in DORSET, and is set within an IA/RB field system. It is clearly visible on AP CPE/UK/2431/3154 [Extending from SY 53649199 to SY 53709211] (2)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SY 56619347) TUMULUS (OE) (1) A bowl barrow; diameter 20 paces, height 3ft. (2). Similar information; it has been disturbed in the middle (3). (2-3) A very flinty grass covered and ditchless bowl barrow; diameter 18.0m., height 0.6m. with a small central depression. (4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A bowl barrow, known as Bind Barrow, which is situated in a prominent position on top of a hill close to the cliff edge. The barrow has a mound 17 metres in diameter and approximately 0.6 metres high. Surrounding the mound is a quarry ditch from which material to construct the mound was derived. Over the years this has become infilled but will survive as a buried feature 2 metres wide. The mound has been dug into and damaged probably by wartime activities leaving it uneven and mishapen with a circular area of concrete on the top. Scheduled.