Monument record MDO196 - Archery butts on Beaminster Down, Beaminster

Area ST 495033) "On the south-west side of the down (Beaminster Down) close to the road are two butts, called Beminster Butts, distant from each other about 50 yards. They were probably erected in pursuance of the Act of Parliament 3 Henry VIII whereby it was ordered that all ...men... should have bows and arrows, .... and that butts should be erected in every parish". (1)

At the beginning of the 19th century there remained on Beaminster Down two butts about 51 1/2 yards apart. They were on the south side of the Down, close to the road and were formerly used for
the practise of archery.

The mounds have now gone and their site cannot be traced. There is no knowledge locally of the name 'Butts'. (2)

Tithe maps and local residents were consulted, but no further information was obtained on the Butts during field investigation. No traces could be found on Beaminster Down. (3)

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 128 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Hine, R A, 1914, History of Beaminster, 17 (Monograph). SDO10607.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 13-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 192991 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 19 2022 3:46PM