Monument record MDO1394 - Bowl barrow, Black Down, Littlebredy

A possible Bronze Age bowl barrow, one of two potential barrows situated on Black Down. Recorded as an extant mound by RCHM and also visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs

(Centred SY 601874). Two bowl barrows situated on Black Down near the south boundary of Little Bredy parish, 600 yards south-south-west of enclosure (SY 68 NW 9 ). The more southerly barrow `B` is about 48ft diameter and 5ft high and damaged by quarrying. Barrow `A` is situated 26 yards north west of `B` and is about 55ft diameter and 5ft high; it has been much disturbed. <2>

`B` - SY 60108742. A ditchless and bracken-covered mound 18.0m diameter by 1.7m high situated at the edge of a disused gravel pit may be a dump of overburden from former gravel workings. <3>

`B` SY 60108742. A gorse covered mound, 12.0m. In diameter and 1.5m. High, with no visible evidence of a ditch. Rabbit-burrows reveal the mound composition to be entirely of earth without trace of brick material. A probable bowl barrow. Dumping of waste brick material has occurred against the S.W. margin of the mound. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <5>

Site of a possible Bronze Age bowl barrow, one of two potential barrows situated on Black Down (MDO1394-5), near the south boundary of Little Bredy parish. It is recorded by the RCHM <1> as measuring 48ft. In diam and 5ft. high and noted as having been damaged by quarrying.

Described by a field investigator in 1955 <3> as a ditchless and bracken-covered mound 18.0m diameter by 1.7m high situated at the edge of a disused gravel pit, suggesting it may be a dump of overburden from former gravel workings.

Later field investigators comments made in 1980 <5> record it as a gorse covered mound, 12.0m. In diameter and 1.5m. High, with no visible evidence of a ditch. Rabbit-burrows reveal the mound composition to be entirely of earth without trace of brick material, suggesting it to be a probable bowl barrow. Dumping of waste brick material has occurred against the S.W. margin of the mound.

This feature is also visible as an earthwork mound on aerial photographs <7>, measuring approximately 14.3 metres in diameter, and was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

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

(`A` - SY 60098745) Tumulus (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 39 (Monograph). SDO97.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 25-MAR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(`A` - SY 60098745; `C` - SY 60278748) Tumulus (NR) twice

<5> Stone, J W, Field Investigators Comments JWS, F2 JWS 11-MAR-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11902.

<6> Papworth, M, 1983, The South Dorset Ridgeway Project: condition and management survey, SDR 179 (Index). SDO12304.

Probable bowl barrow with scrub set in an area of heathland. Damaged but still about 48.0m diameter and 4ft. high. 1/3/C

<7> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3299-3300 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11849.

<8> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South Dorset Ridgeway Barrow Survey 2010 (Unpublished document). SDO12407.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452328 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 7 2024 7:11AM