Chance

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.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SY59629181] TUMULUS [OE] (1) A cairn on grass. June 1954. Diameter 20 paces, height 3 1/2 ft. (2)
A flinty grass covered bowl barrow with no visible ditch Diameter 19.0m, height 1.2m. (3)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(’A’ – SY 63918703; ‘B’ – SY 64088721) Tumulus (NR) (twice). (1)
‘A’. Bowl barrow on Great Hill, the next spur to east of Shorn Hill. Diam 74ft, ht 9ft. Disturbed, with Ancient Field Group (SY 68 NW 37).
‘B’. Bowl barrow on crest of north east slope of Great Hill 270 yds north east of ‘A’. Diam 55 ft, ht 5 ft. (2-3)
‘A’ SY 63908703. Bowl barrow, diameter 24.0m., height 2.4m., in good condition. No visible ditch.
‘B’ SY 64088721. Bowl barrow, diameter 18.0m., height 2.0m., flat top of 5.0m. diameter. No visible ditch.
Neither barrow has been ploughed over.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(Centred at SY 640885) Tumulus (NR) Tumuli (NR) (1) Three bowl barrows form a west-east line along the crest of Grove Hill about 1 mile north of the Ridgeway, though visible from it. All have been ploughed and are now of indefinite diameter,
though at least 70 ft. Two (’A’, ‘B’) were called ‘Sherf Barrows’ on I Taylor’s Estate Map of c 1770 when both lay in an area of former open fields and were surrounded by square enclosures (cf SY 68 NW 15).
‘A’ (63888849). Ht 2 1/2 ft.
‘B’ (63918849). Immediately adjacent on east-north-east of ‘A’. Ht 1 1/2 ft.
‘C’ (64128852). 230 yds east of ‘B’. Ht 4 ft. (2-3)
‘A’ SY 63878849. Bowl barrow, diameter 31.0m., height 1.3m.
‘B’ SY 63908849. Bowl barrow, diameter 29.0m. height 1.0m.
‘C’ SY 64118851. Bowl barrow, well-preserved, diameter 40.0m., height 1.8.
All are in arable, and none has any visible evidence of a ditch.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A bowl barrow on the top of North Hill, 750 metres north east of Marsh Barn. The barrow has a mound which is 20 metres in diameter and 0.8 metres high. Surrounding the mound is a quarry ditch which has become infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature 3 metres wide. Scheduled.

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

(SY 62769253) Long Barrow (NR) (1) A long barrow situated 320 yds north west of Hampton Plantation is 140ft long and appears to be wider towards the east; at a point 45ft from this end it is 60ft wide and 3ft high. Its axis is on a line of about 125o. The work has been much ploughed over and spread. (No 151 in OS Map of Neolithic Wessex). (2)
A long barrow orientated north west – south west is of flinty construction now grass covered. Its long axis measures 45.0m and its short axis 19.0m, with a height of 1.2m. No side ditches are visible but on the west side is a large circular depression, approx 20.0m in diameter and 1.7m deep which appears to be a natural subsidence. (3) SY 627925. Frampton long barrow listed by Ashbee. (4) SY 62769253. Long barrow, generally as described, but further reduced by ploughing; it now measures 38.0 by 16.0 metres with a maximum height of 0.8 metres. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (5)

Details of settlement on Pastscape

An Iron Age and Romano-British settlement. An Iron Age storage pit was found dating to the first quarter of the 1st century AD containing pottery and sling stones. Six crouched Roman burials were found and one of a child. Part of an oven and a probable hut base were excavated. Finds included pottery, three brooches, a bracelet, some counters and four 3rd to 4th century coins. A unique Carolingian silver coin was also discovered.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(Group Centred SY 62439083) Tumuli [NR] (five shown) (1) ‘B’ SY 62309081. ‘C’ SY 62329088. ‘D’ SY 62389086. ‘E’ SY 62449084.
‘A’ This long barrow is orientated NW-SE; its long axis measures 46.0m, its short axis 27.0m. It is 0.4m high at the N end and 1.1m high at the S end. There are no visible side ditches, and the barrow is at present under the plough.
‘B’ A grass covered bowl barrow, diameter 11.0m, height 1.7m. Past ploughing has probably given the berm effect visible on the NW side and the top has been dug into.
‘C’ A grass covered bowl barrow, diameter 25.0m, height 2.4m. Hollow in top. ‘D’ and ‘E’. Two bowl barrows of average height 0.4m. Both are under the plough. (2) Group of five barrows on Pound Hill:
‘A’ -(Winterbourne Steepleton No 60) – SY 62529081. Ditched double bowl barrow with mounds 72ft and 45ft in diameter and 1
1/2ft and 1ft high respectively. Both were surrounded by a continuous hour-glass shaped ditch visible on air photograph (a). Now ploughed almost flat. Listed by Grinsell under ‘Long Barrows’ and also ‘Twin Bowl-Barrows’, the latter type he described as being the more probable.
‘B’ (Winterbourne Abbas No 53) – SY 62309082. Bowl barrow 34 ft diameter and 5 1/2 ft high. Disturbed.
‘C’ (Winterbourne Abbas No 54) SY 62329089. Bowl barrow 60ft diameter and 10 1/2ft high. Excavation hollow on top.
‘D’ (Winterbourne Steepleton No 58) SY 62399087. Bowl barrow about 60ft diameter and 2 ft high. Now ploughed almost flat.
‘E’ (Winterbourne Steepleton No 59) SY 62439085 (?) Ditched bowl barrow, about 70ft diameter and 1 1/2ft high. A circular soil-mark suggesting a ditch about 100ft in diameter appears on air photograph (a). (3,4)

A: SY 62539081. A mound, smoothed and reduced by ploughing, measuring approximately 35.0 by 20.0 metres and with a maximum height of 0.8 metres. It is oriented W.N.W. to E.S.E Classification as a twin bowl can be confirmed by the OS air photographs, which shows the cropmark of the hour-glass ditch, and the western barrow to have been 32 metres diameter overall, and the eastern one 26 metres in diameter.
B: SY 62309082. Bowl barrow, 11.5 by 10.5 metres and 1.7 metres high.
‘C’. SY 62329088. Bowl barrow, 22.0 by 19.0 metres, and 3.8 metres high.
‘B’ and ‘C’ have not been ploughed over.
‘D’. SY 62389086. Bowl barrow, diameter 22.0 metres approximately, height 0.1 to 0.6 metres. Ploughed down.
‘E’. SY 62469083. Bowl barrow, diameter 18.0 metres, approximately, height 1.0 metres. Ploughed down.
Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (7)
Two further barrows are recorded at SY 6243 9084, diameter 10-12m, and SY 6248 9082, similar dimensions, on Pound Hill. (The former appears to coincide with the position of ‘E’ as recorded by Auth 3) A flint axe, of a type rare in Wessex, and other flintwork, were found unstratified on the SE side of the second barrow. Their derivation is unknown. (8)
Two additional barrows are recorded by Grinsell at SY 6259 9087 (ca 70 ft across) and SY 6265 9085 (similar size). (9)

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

(SY 63759235) Long Barrow (NR) (1) SY 63769234. A long barrow near Red Barn, orientated south-south-east/north-north-west is about 120ft long; the greatest width being towards the south-south-east where it measures 58ft and the height 3ft. There are no remains of ditches. OS Map of Neolithic Wessex No.152. (2,3) A grass and tree-covered long barrow, 50.0m long, 21.0m wide and 1.4m high in the south east which is the higher end; the western end merges gradually into the surrounding ground. (4)
SY 637923. Bradford Peverell Long Barrow 1 listed by Ashbee. (5) A long barrow, 54.0 metres long and 15.5 metres across, of which the ENE side is a distinct slope 8.0 metres long and 1.2 metres high at the North end, fading to 0.4 metres at the south end. The other side, visible for only 26.0 metres, is an ill-defined slope about 3.0 metres long and 0.3 metres high. There are no side ditches. The barrow, grass covered and in a thinned plantation, must have been bulldozed to some extent. Its size bears no resemblance to former records (2 to 4) and the current plan is unlike that published on the OS 25” 1959, which depicts a broad south-east end.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(’A’ – SY 60688893) Tumulus (NR). (’B’ – SY 60688901; ‘C’ – SY 60718904; ‘D’ – SY 60758902; ‘E’ – SY 60868906) Tumuli (NR).
Five round barrows, including a double bowl and a pond barrow lie above apparent limit of ‘Celtic’ fields on a broad spur running North East from the Ridgeway at about 460 ft above OD.
‘A’ Bowl (60688893) on slight South East slope. diam 35 ft ht 2 1/2 ft Damaged by excavation.
‘B’ Pond barrow (60708901) 93 yds North North East of ‘A’ Central depression, diam 35 ft, depth 2 ft, surrounded by bank 10 ft to 12 ft wide and 5 ins high. Excavation by H G Wakefield for the commission in 1947-8 and by R J C Atkinson in 1950 showed that a pavement of flints gathered from the top-soil largely covered the depression. Beneath and around the pavement were thirty-five pits cut into the chalk subsoil, in some cases through the pavement. Seventeen pits contained Early Bronze Age urns, two held an urn and an inhumation, one held a urn and a cremation, seven contained only cremations, and eight were
filled with soil alone. The whole site had been stripped before the pavement was laid, the pits dug, and the bank built.
‘C’ Ditched double bowl (60728904) immediately adjacent on North North East of ‘B’. diams of mounds 59 ft and 55 ft, hts 5 ft and 4 1/2 ft; joined by slight bank and surrounded by hour- glass shaped ditch 12 ft wide. Partially sectioned during excavation of ‘B’, the ditch was just over 2 ft deep and probably dug before ‘B’ was constructed. Bronze Age sherds probably of bucket urn found on south West of W mound.
‘D’ Bowl (?) (60758902) 30 yds South east of E mound of ‘C’ Diam 50 ft, ht 3 1/2 ft.
‘E’ Bowl (?) (60878907) on summit of spur 130 yds North East of ‘D’. Only slight rise remains. (2-3)

‘A’ SY 60698893. Bowl barrow in arable, ploughed-down. Diameter 10.5m., height 0.4m.-0.7m. No visible ditch.
‘B’ Ploughed out. No remains.
‘C’ SY 60708904. Twin bowl barrows, with ditch 6.0m. wide on south side only, possibly, but not certainly, common to both. Each barrow is 18.0m in diameter and 2.0m. high, in arable but not ploughed.
‘D’ SY 60758902. Bowl barrow in arable, not ploughed over. Diameter 17.0m., height 1.7m. No visible ditch.
‘E’ SY 60868906. Barrow in arable, ploughed almost flat. Diameter approximately 20.0m., height 0.2m. No visible ditch.
A, C, D, E Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. Detail of B deleted on 1:2500 MSD. (4)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[Group centred SY 54909394] Tumuli (NR) Tumuli (NR) (1)
‘A’ SY 54729413. A bowl barrow 10 paces in diameter and 0.75 ft high.
‘B’ A bowl barrow; diameter 16 paces, height 2 ft.
‘C’ Bowl barrow; diameter 23 paces, height 3 ft.
‘D, E & F’. Three bowl barrows with respective diameters of 9, 10 & 12 paces, and from 3 ins to 1 ft high. (1). [Similar information].(2 – 3)
These barrows are on arable ground: A and B in areas of grass, the others under a hay crop.
A: Not visible, and probably ploughed out; ‘site of’.
B: A grass covered bowl barrow with no visible ditch. The mound is 15.0m in diameter and 0.6m high, and there are swallow holes to the NW and NE of the barrow.
C: A bowl barrow, with no visible ditch; diameter 14.0m, height 0.7m.D: A slight unsurveyable mound, visible mainly as a crop mark; ‘site of’.
E: This bowl barrow is almost ploughed out; it has a diameter of 9.0m, and a height of 0.1m.
F: A ditchless bowl barrow, diameter 12.0m, height 0.3m. (4)

Details of Cross Dyke on Pastscape

(Centred at SY 65728506) Cross Dyke (NR) (1) Cross Ridge Dyke on Windsbatch (SY 68 NE; 65748504 to 65778517), a bank 30 ft. across and some 8 ft. above a W. ditch 30 ft. wide, is bowed slightly E. and virtually cuts off the E. end of the limestone ridge. Its S. end is on the 300 ft. contour, at the edge of a very steep slope (an apparent continuation downhill is a small boundary bank of later date built in the ditch and continuing its line); 240 ft. to the N. is a gap, probably original, 16 ft. across. A less clear length of bank running for some 90 ft. N. of this gap ends a little way down the rounded shoulder of the hill where there is much old quarry disturbance. The N. slope is only notably steep E. of the dyke, which is therefore defensive in situation as well as size. There are slight banks and scarps in the 8 acres of ridge top to the E. but the area is very disturbed. (3) In the ditch along the ridge top are several ‘Standing Stones” up to 0.7m high and in line.
The cross ridge dyke is as described by RCHM (2). The seven stones standing above ground in the ditch are possibly part of the modern boundary aspect of the complex.

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

Neolithic long barrow located near the crest of Oakley Down, orientated roughly northwest-southeast. Listed by RCHME as Sixpenny Handley 29 and by Grinsell as Handley I. Excavated totally by Pitt Rivers in 1893-4, prior to excavation it comprised a mound 150 feet long, 75 feet wide and 12 feet high. It was surrounded by a ditch which proved to be steep-sided, flat-bottomed, and interrupted by a single causeway at the northwest end and three at the southeast end. The ditch varied in width from 10 feet to 25 feet, and was up to 13 feet deep. The excavations showed that the mound was preceded by an earlier monument on the same alignment, suggested by Barrett et al (1991) to be a sub-rectangular post-built structure, the posts perhaps revetting a mound up to 1.5 metres high. A porched entrance faced southeast, and just inside it was the main burial area. Bracketed by 2 D-shaped pits and flanked by a stone bank were the disarticulated remains of 3 males and the articulated skeletons of 3 others, all covered by a low mound of soil. The ditch surrounding the later, enlarged mound featured a lengthy sequence of deposits, beginning with Early Neolithic plain bowl sherds plus antler radicoarbon dated to the early to mid 4th millennium BC in the lowest fill. Above these layers, but below those containing Peterborough Ware, were 2 crouched inhumations (1 adult, 1 child) with a large flint arrowhead against the west terminal of the entrance. Higerh layers contained Peterborough Ware pottery, while the uppermost featured some beaker sherds and Roman pottery. Seventeen possible late Saxon burials had been inserted into the ditch. In later prehistory, Wor Barrow appears to have been separated from cultivated fields by an irregulalr ditched enclosure (see SU 01 NW 12). Wor Barrow is closely associated with two later Neolithic round barrows (SU 01 NW 13 and 15). The site was reconstructed, after a fashion, by Pitt Rivers.

Details of round barrow on Pastscape – Monument No. 213498

A later Neolithic round barrow located immediately south east of Wor Barrow (SU 01 NW 14). The site was briefly examined by Colt Hoare in the early 19th century and more thoroughly examined by Pitt Rivers in 1894. Prior to the latter’s excavtion, the mound appears to have been circa 0.90 metres high, and was surrounded by a ditch 13 metres in diameter, and featuring a causeway on the western side, broadly facing the causeway at the southeastern end of Wor Barrow. Pitt Rivers states that fragments of a skeleton were found at the centre of the barrow lying on a heap of flint nodules. He also refers to a crouched skeleton being found 8.5 feet west of the centre and 1 foot beneath the surface (of the mound, presumably). This was accompanied by a jet slider. Sherds of Mortlake ware were found at the bottom of the ditch and below the mound, while Beaker sherds and Collared Urn sherds were also found. Hoare’s excavations were less successful. He cited disturbance to both this and the other nearby round barrow SU 01 NW 13 by a boundary ditch as a reason for the poverty of finds, but he did note fragments of human bones intermixed with soil.

Details of round barrow on Pastscape – Monument No. 213498

A later Neolithic round barrow located immediately south east of Wor Barrow (SU 01 NW 14). The site was briefly examined by Colt Hoare in the early 19th century and more thoroughly examined by Pitt Rivers in 1894. Prior to the latter’s excavtion, the mound appears to have been circa 0.90 metres high, and was surrounded by a ditch 13 metres in diameter, and featuring a causeway on the western side, broadly facing the causeway at the southeastern end of Wor Barrow. Pitt Rivers states that fragments of a skeleton were found at the centre of the barrow lying on a heap of flint nodules. He also refers to a crouched skeleton being found 8.5 feet west of the centre and 1 foot beneath the surface (of the mound, presumably). This was accompanied by a jet slider. Sherds of Mortlake ware were found at the bottom of the ditch and below the mound, while Beaker sherds and Collared Urn sherds were also found. Hoare’s excavations were less successful. He cited disturbance to both this and the other nearby round barrow SU 01 NW 13 by a boundary ditch as a reason for the poverty of finds, but he did note fragments of human bones intermixed with soil.

Angle Ditch – Monument No. 213495

Details of ditch on Pastscape

A length of ditch of Middle Bronze Age date discovered and excavated in October 1893 by Pitt Rivers. The ditch runs for a total length of 68.6 metres, and includes a near right-angled turn. Prior to excavation, the site had not been visible as a surface feature. The ditch averaged 2 metres in depth. No trace of an accompanying bank was observed. Area excavations failed to idnetify any post-built structures associated with the ditch. However, this was also the case at nearby South Lodge (ST 91 NE 9), where Pitt-Rivers and his labourers largely failed to notice structures which only came to light during re-excavation in the late 1970s by Barrett and Bradley. It seems likely therefore that the Angle Ditch represents either a partially enclosed settlement, or a partially ditched enclosure (see, for example, the nearby Down Farm enclosure SU 01 SW 84). Like South Lodge, the ditch appears to run around the corner of an earlier field plot (integrated within field system SU 01 NW 71). Pitt Rivers’ surface trenching recovered pottery and flint in variable quantities across the area examined, including some notable concentrations. The ditch also contained pottery, metalwork and other finds of Middle Bronze Age date. The upper fill of the ditch included some Roman pottery, and Roman sherds also occurred in a surface scatter in the vicinity. The Angle Ditch itself is also cut by a later ditch which also appears to form part of a larger irregular enclosure surrounding Wor Barrow (SU 01 NW 14) and a couple of round barrows (SU 01 NW 13 and 15). The purpose of this larger enclosure appears to have been to demarcate an unploughed area around Wor Barrow.

Details of caven on Pastscape

Excavations at Rowberrow Cavern by the University of Bristol Speleological Society in 1920-26 uncovered material of a number of different periods. The Upper Palaeolithic appears to be represented by a few flint implements and possibly some animal remains. Some microliths and a core indicate some Mesolithic activity. The Neolithic/Early Bronze Age was represented by a range of flint implements including knives, as well as some Beaker potsherds. Iron Age finds included some pottery, a light blue bead, and traces of iron smelting. Romano-British finds included potsherds, a number of coins (some possibly “British imitations”, ie counterfeit), and a few pieces of copper alloy and of lead. Some bone objects are suggested by Branigan and Dearne to be Iron Age, while some human skeletal fragments are suggested to be pre-Roman. Soma at least of the faunal assemblage may have been contemporary with the Iron Age and Roman use of the cave.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 4492 5834] Tumulus [G.T.]. (1) T.185: Tumulus dug into 1813, contained a chamber, 4’ sq. x 3’ high, with cremation, dagger, ‘half transparent beads of various colours’, an urn and other objects. A probable secondary inhumation was also found. Two cinerary urns from ‘Rowbarrow Field .. 1818 in Bristol Mus. may have come from this site. A bronze pin was picked up c.1925 on the barrow. Finds are in the possession of Dr. N.C. Cooper of Winscombe. ‘Found on the tumulus at Rowbarrow’ 1929, flint scraper and flakes: in Somerset Arch. Soc. Mus. (2-4) This is a flat topped bowl barrow 2.0m high. It is composed of earth and stone and has been cut back at the sides. Surveyed at 1/2500. Listed by Grinsell as Shipham 2. (5) Well-worked flint knife, probably of the BA, from the large round barrow at Rowberrow near Dolebury, acquired by Bristol City Museum 1969/70. (6)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 4843 5549] Tumulus [G.T.]. (1) T 1866, O.G.S. Crawford thought this “almost certainly a barrow, possibly long”, and A.T. Wicks agrees. Tratman however, describes it as “alleged long barrow, doubtful. Perhaps a natural mound”.
“Round barrow near Longwood”, scheduled. (2-4) This is a ditchless oval mound 1.1m high. It is certainly artificial and may be a long barrow but is more probably a mis-shapen round barrow. Published survey (1/2500) revised. Listed by Grinsell as Cheddar 17. (5)

Details of henge on Pastscape

A Neolithic henge surviving as earthworks and located on a limestone spur of the Mendips. The site has seen excavation on three occasions – trial trenching in 1928 was followed by 5 seasons of excavation between 1931 and 1935. The entrance area was re-examined in 1965. The site is defined by an irregular sub-circular ditch cut into the limestone and surrounded by an earth and rubble bank. Overall diameter of the enclosure is circa 46 metres. A single entrance causewayed entrance is located on the northern side. Excavation showed the presence of two post holes on either side of the entrance, just outside the ditch but between the terminals of the bank. The interior seems to have been devoid of features. The ditch contained the bulk of the finds, including a disturbed cist burial in the northwest sector, close to the causeway, and containing the disturbed remains of at least two individuals. Further human remains were found nearby, and two skull fragments were found on the other, eastern side of the causeway. Substantial deposits of charcoal, flints, pottery and animal bones were recovered from the ditch. At least 4000 flints were recovered, and the potsherds – almost all Beaker, have been estimated to represent 100 to 120 vessels. Some later material (bucket urn sherds, probably Early Bronze Age) was also present. Other periods represented by odd finds include Mesolithic microliths and a Roman glass bead. In the 1970s, 6 radiocarbon dates were obtained on material recovered from earlier excavations. All are concentrated in the early 2nd millennium bc (uncalibrated).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SY 96388237) Tumulus (NR) (1) Small bowl barrow. (2) This tumulus has a diameter of 11.0m. and a height of 0.6m. with no surrounding ditch.It is somewhat spread and is surmounted by numerous small stones. Bowl barrow. Not a cairn. (3)
SY 96378237. Bowl barrow, 40ft diameter and 2ft high on spine of East Hill. Probably ploughed. (4)

Details of field system on Pastscape

An impressive prehistoric or Romano-British field system defined as ‘Celtic’ fields occupies the reasonably steep south and southwest-facing slopes across the whole of the common. The best-preserved area, comprising well-defined rectilinear plots is, centred at SY95758086 on the southern fringe of part of the barrow cemetery. Here small linked unenclosed square plots, resembling a chequerboard, with distinctive rounded corners and straight sides are formed from the material excavated out of the steep slope are anything up to 2m in height with back scarps up to 1.6m in height. There are no obvious inter-connecting ramps to the plots. Scattered patched of dense gorse and ground cover vegetation obscure parts of this extensive and impressive field system. The ‘Celtic’ fields extend across the lower, south-facing slopes and consequently are not as well defined with front scarps or ‘risers’ up to 0.8m high. These plots clearly respect the courses of the broad and natural shallow valleys which are formed by the action of spring sapping, by inturning along the line of the valley slope.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

A group of four Bronze Age bowl barrows on Corfe Common. All are extant as earthwork mounds, one possibly surrounded by a ditch. Signs of disturbance suggest that some excavation has occurred on at least one of the barrows in the past. A plain tripartite urn in the British Museum (accession number 1982.9-1.238) has been identified as coming either from one of these barrows or from one of the adjacent barrow groups (SY 98 SE 17 and 47). Scheduled.

etails of barrows on Pastscape

Barrow group on Coombe Beacon, comprises four bowl barrows and two bell barrows.
(Centred SY 860844) Tumuli (NR) (six shown) (1) A group of heather-covered round barrows on Coombe Beacon:
‘A’ SY 86148450. Bell barrow, 22.0m. diameter and 2.0m. high with berm approx 2.0m. wide. The mound is flattened and mutilated by rabbits and there is a surrounding ditch 2.3m. wide and 0.4m. deep.
‘B’ SY 86158445. Bell barrow, 22.0m. diameter and 1.8m. high with a berm averaging 2.0m. wide. The surrounding ditch is 2.0m. wide and 0.3m. deep. The top of the mound has been mutilated by rabbits.
‘C’ SY 85998440. Bowl barrow, 26.0m. diameter and 1.7m. high on the south and 1.2m. high on the north. There is no evidence of a berm or ditch, and the mound is flat topped and spread.
‘D’ SY 86008435. Bowl barrow, 15.0m. diameter and 1.2m high with no trace of berm or ditch, slightly mutilated at the sides.
‘E’ SY 85968435. Bowl barrow, 15.0m. diameter and 1.1m high with no trace of berm or ditch mutilated by rabbits.
‘F’ SY 86068449. Bowl barrow, 18.0m. diameter and 0.25m high, much spread, but with no trace of berm or ditch. (2)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SZ 01438210) Thorny Barrow (Tumulus) (NR) (1) Thorny Barrow, destroyed. Quarried away before 1939. (2)
This mound has not been quarried away entirely, but fragmentary remains are still visible adjacent to a sand quarry; it is now impossible to give any measurement for these remains. This mound might possibly have been the result of a natural geological formation as seen in similar mounds in the proximity (see SZ 08 SW 11, 43 and 44). (3)
SZ 01438210. Thorny Barrow, bowl (?)barrow, about 65ft diameter and about 8ft high, on the edge of a broad ridge but almost unrecognisable owing to the encroachment of a large sand pit. (5)

Details of earthworks on Pastscape

Linear earthworks comprising banks and ditches present on Worgret Heath and Wareham Common. These consist of two alignements whigh meet at a central point. Each has a pair of banks 7 to 12 metres wide and 0.2 to 0.4 metres high which flank a pair of ditches 4 to 5 metres wide. These are now visible as a single depression between the banks. The southern earthwork has been disturbed by sand and gravel extraction and truncated by road. Scheduled.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(’A’-SY 90128737; ‘B’ – SY 90118733) Tumuli (NR) (two shown) (1)
‘A’ Dimensions: Diam 9 yards. Height 3ft undisturbed.
‘B’ Dimensions: Diam 17 yards. Height 5ft. Flat topped shallow surrounding ditch. (2)
‘A’ Diameter 6.5 metres; height 0.8 metres. No sign of a berm, but three trenches have been dug in what appears to be an unsurveyable ditch. No other sign of mutilation. Probably a bowl barrow.
‘B’ Diameter 14.0 metres. Height 1.8 metres. A surrounding ditch has an average depth of 0.3m. and width of 1.3 metres. This has been mutilated on the W side by a land drainage trench. No berm visible. A bowl barrow. (3)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

There are two barrow in “Young Creech”, a field belonging to Woodstreet Farm (NY 856856) which were opened about 1831. Several urns were discovered with burnt bones and ashes.(1) Field investigation revealed two barrows near Woodstreet Farm. SY 84848571: Bowl barrow, grass covered and measuring 24.0m. diameter and 1.1m. high has a rather flattened top containing a slight depression. SY 84838575: Bowl barow, grass covered and spread measuring 24.0m. diameter and an average height of 0.8m. No surface finds were made during field investigation. (2)
SY 84838573: Bowl (?) barrow, 72ft. diameter and 4ft. high with trigonometrical station on slightly hollow top. Probably one of two opened in mid 19th century in “Young Creech”, when several inurned cremations were found. Also probably one of two formerly noted south of Quarr Hill. The other barrow at SY 84848571 is not listed by R.C.H.M. (3-4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SY 87678199) Thorn Barrow Tumulus (NR) (1) The northern half of this barrow has been badly spread out by shell-fire and the ditch in this area has been obliterated. East-West the barrow measures 27.0m. and North-South approximately 25.0m. while the ditch is 2.5m. wide and 0.4m. deep.There were no surface finds in the vicinity of this bowl-barrow. (2)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Two Bronze Age bowl barrows situated on a knoll overlooking Frome Valley to the north. The larger barrow is 18m in diameter and 1.5m high with a ditch visible as a 2m wide depression to the north and south, elsware the ditch will survive as a buried feature. The upper part of the mound has a number of trenches cut into it of military origin. This barrow is scheduled. The other barrow is scrub covered.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Tumulus (NR) (Three times) (A – SY 93078481 : B – SY 9307 8465 : C – SY 92988449). (1)
‘A’ is a rather poorly shaped bowl barrow with diameter of 17.0m and a height of 1.5m with no surrounding ditch. Heather covered with no apparent signs of mutilation.
‘B’ has a diameter of 22.0m and a max height of 2.4m. and has no surrounding ditch. A hollow in the top has a diameter of 3.0m and is 0.4m deep. A small portion at the Eastern base has been cut away. A heather and gorse covered Bowl Barrow.
‘C’ Is a badly mutilated bowl barrow. A trench in the East measures 4.0m long and 1.8m wide and appears to have been cut for soil extractions and not excavation. It is badly pitted all over and now serves as a rubbish dump. The barrow has a diameter of 16.5m and is 1.4m high and has no surrounding ditch.
These widely spaced three round barrows are submerged under dense impenetrable gorse; although detailed inspection was impossible they appear not to have suffered serious depredation since the report of 1970 (4).

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(Centred SY 925840) Tumuli (NR) (1)
‘A’ SY 92488402. Bowl barrow. ‘B’ SY 92508402. Bowl barrow ‘C’ SY 92528402. Large Bowl barrow with slight ditch. ‘D’ SY 92598405 Spread bowl barrow. (2)
The Creech Heath group of four bowl barrows lies in a west-east line above a south slope. One of these may have been the barrow on the Heath opened in the 19th century (see SY 98 SW 47)

A string of four round barrows occupying a prominent position on a low ridge in heathland.
‘A’. This barrow is now submerged under dense, mature gorse bushes. The mound appears to have been gutted and the area has been disturbed by exploratory mining pits.
‘B’. This round barrow is also covered by mature gorse bushes; a large pit or shaft has been dug beside the west edge. It measures about 11.0m in diameter and is approximately 1.1m high.
‘C’. This ditched round barrow is situated on the edge of the ridge top so part of its mound and ditch lie on a south-facing slope. It measures from 22.0 to 23.0m overall and the mound is up to 2.6m high. The ditch at its deepest is 0.7m but it gradually fades to 0.2m on the downhill side. (c/f SY 98 SW 1. ‘b’).
‘D’. A spread round barrow up to 19.2m in diameter and 0.8m high.