Monument record MDO2070 - Cross dyke on Friar Waddon Hill, Portesham

A linear earthwork running across the ridge. Of prehistoric date and possibly associated with the extensive prehistoric field system on the hill. In 1972 this monument was recorded as a distinct earthwork about 70 yards long, 14 feet across and about 1½ feet deep. Visible as a linear earthwork bank and ditch on aerial photographs.

SY 64258542. A cross-ridge dyke on Frair Waddon Hill, a bank and ditch about 70yds long, is aligned N-S across the axis of the limestone ridge at about 400ft. above O.D. It lies on a gentle S.-facing slope and extends from the edge of the steep S. face of the ridge to its summit. The bank is 14ft. across and 1ft. high, the ditch, to its E., 14ft. across and about 1 1/2ft. deep; 3 yds. beyond the N. end of the bank is an irregular mound, not a barrow, 20ft. across and 2 1/2ft. high. Level with the N. end of the bank the ditch is shallower and turns sharply eastwards for some 20 yds., running under a stone field wall before being lost in very disturbed ground. It may be related to the Celtic field system on the hill-top (SY 68 NW 106) but there is no visible connection. <1>

Also visible as a linear earthwork bank and ditch on aerial photographs <2>, running in a north-south orientation for approximately 58 metres in length. This site was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 518 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(62) CROSS-RIDGE DYKE, on Friar Waddon Hill (SY 68 NW; 64258542), a bank and ditch about 70 yds. long, is aligned N.-S. across the axis of the limestone ridge at about 400 ft. above O.D. It lies on a gentle S.-facing slope and extends from the edge of the steep S. face of the ridge to its summit. The bank is 14 ft. across and 1 ft. high, the ditch, to its E., 14 ft. across and about 1½ ft. deep; 3 yds. beyond the N. end of the bank is an irregular mound, not a barrow, 20 ft. across and 2½ ft. high. Level with the N. end of the bank the ditch is shallower and turns sharply eastwards for some 20 yds., running under a stone field wall before being lost in very disturbed ground. It may be related to the 'Celtic' fields of which faint traces are discernible all over the hill-top, but there is no visible connection.’

<2> 12-5-2002, PGA SY6485 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11933.

<3> Papworth, M, 1983, The South Dorset Ridgeway Project: condition and management survey, SDR 700 (Index). SDO12304.

Monument situated in permanent pasture. Adjacent field to the N regularly ploughed. 7/-/B

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452583 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 24 2022 3:05PM