Monument record MDO1167 - Hollow Way, Pound Hill, Frampton

A ditch situated to the north of barrow 16b (SY 62639156 - see SY 69 SW 27) is about 230 yds long and has traces of a bank on both sides. Further indeterminate banks and hollows lie to the S. <2>

A SY 62759166 to B SY 62559167 Earthwork
B SY 62559167 to C SY 62039146 Earthwork, course of.
A-B: A grass covered ditch averaging 6.0m wide and 0.6m deep, with occasional traces of a bank on the S side, two surveyable instances being centred at SY 62739166 and SY 62609167, lengths of bank being 33.0m and 57.0m respectively. In each case the bank averages 3.5m wide and 0.2m high. There are only very vague traces of a bank on the N side of the ditch.

B-C: The earthwork is visible on AP CPE/UK/2431/3141 as running roughly westward for a further 500 metres, and then turning to the S for a distance of approximately 150m. The southern extension is less well defined, and no continuation is visible S of the Ro road (RR4f).

On the ground faint traces may be seen immediately W of 'B', for approximately 150 metres. The whole area is under grass but no further traces of the earthwork are visible on the ground, where a large number of natural sinkings occur.

The earthwork is situated within a large field system of 1A/RB type; and it is noticeable that field banks are 'staggered' on each side of the ditch, suggesting that the earthwork may be earlier than, or contemporary with the system. In the latter case the ditch could conceivably be a fieldway. Throughout its length it keeps to a fairly constant height.

What appeared to be a modern track, cutting through the field banks, joins the older earthwork at 'B', from a S and E direction. <3>

"Frampton No 21" (See Authy 2). A hollow-way (?) and a faint track which joins it from the south-east as well as a continuation west of both, apparently belong to a phase of 'Celtic' fields which end against them. The deep hollowing of the track is unusual in a 'Celtic' field system and is probably due to subsequent wear or to the utilisation of a ditch line. <4>

The greater part of the linear ditch has now been ploughed out. The only stretch visible is from SY 62639169 to SY 62769167, a length of about 120 metres where it is a maximum of 8.0 metres wide and 0.5 metres deep at the eastern end. Most of this short stretch moreover has been infilled with chalk rubble to bring it almost up to ground level. There is no trace of the ditch further west, or of the faint trackway noted by RCHM <4>. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <5>

Well preserved hollow way of uncertain prehistoric or medieval date visible as low earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs. <6-10>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 62419166 - 62759166) Ditch (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 117 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(21) Ditch etc., to the N. of (16b). The ditch is about 230 yards long and has traces of a bank on both sides. Further indeterminate banks and hollows lie to the S'.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 03-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 624 Plan (Monograph). SDO150.

<5> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 10-MAR-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<6> 12-APR-1983, NMR SY 6291/1 (2134/0160) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11162.

<7> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 3141-43 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11161.

<8> 12-APR-1983, NMR SY 6291/9 (2134/0168) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11160.

<9> 05-MAY-1989, NMR OS/89137 477-79 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11159.

<10> Royal Air Force, 09-MAR-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2475 4068-70 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11157.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453619 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 17 2024 11:58AM