Monument record MDO1951 - Bowl barrow, one of the Plush Hill Group, Piddletrenthide

One of a group of round barrows on a broad ridge in an area where traces of prehistoric field systems can be seen. In 1970 this monument was reported as 50 feet in diameter with a mound about 3½ feet high. The centre of the mound has been disturbed, presumably in the course of antiquarian investigation. The barrow is clearly visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and was digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project.

A barrow group. (See Table 1.) Three other barrows mentioned (2,3 and 4) could be part of this group. (See Table 2.). <2>

The barrow is clearly visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and was digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project. (Lidar 2021 (8))

<1> Quinnell, N V, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 11-FEB-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 124 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 71930176, ST 72020172, ST 72030169, ST 72050180, ST 72080179) Tumuli (NR)

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 221 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘The Plush Hill Group (54)–(58) lies over 700 ft. above O.D. on the top of a broad ridge, in an area that is interrupted by many depressions that are probably old chalk pits; traces of 'Celtic' fields (Group 44) also occur. All the barrows except (54) have been heavily ploughed.
(54) Bowl (71930176), in pasture, has been dug into at the centre. Diam. 50 ft., ht. 3½ ft.’

<6> Barrett, G, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments GB, F2 GB 10-OCT-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<6> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1967, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1966, 145 (Serial). SDO66.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 202036 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<8> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Nov 8 2025 4:55PM