Monument record MDO2197 - Rainbarrows, Duddle Heath, Puddletown

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Summary

A Bronze Age bowl barrow, one of a small group of three known as 'Rainbarrows'. In 1970 this monument was reported as being around 83 feet in diameter with a mound about 8 feet high, with traces of an encircling ditch. The mound has been damaged by the construction of a World War II observation post on the southern edge. There is also a large hole cut into the centre of the mound, probably a consequence of antiquarian exploration. Bucket urns containing cremations, and said to be from the Rainbarrows are in the Dorset County Museum.

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Three barrows (25-27), 'Rainbarrows', lie on Duddle Heath at just over 300ft OD near the S end of a ridge overlooking the valley of the R Frome.

'C' - (27) Bowl (73549202), 50 yds SSE of (26), is damaged by a wartime observation post on the S and by a large hole dug into the centre. Diam 83ft ht 8ft. Traces of ditch. <3>

'C' SY 73539201. Bowl barrow, diameter 27.0m., height 2.6m., with a hollowed centre 8.0m. diameter. Ditch 3.0m. wide and 0.3m. deep visible on the north-eastern half of the barrow. All barrows are covered with dense bushes and undergrowth. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <4>

Site of a Bronze Age bowl barrow. <5-6>


<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(Centred SY 735920) Rainbarrows (Tumuli) (NR)

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 129 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 231 (Monograph). SDO136.

'Of the thirty round barrows which occur in the parish, monuments (25–37) and monument (47) lie on the heathland of the Reading Beds; the others are on Chalk. The most northerly of the 'Rainbarrows' (25) is almost certainly the one which was opened by Cunnington (Cunnington MS. No. 27; Dorset Procs. XXXVII (1916), 43); a cremation lay 8 ft. down, under a central cairn 12 ft. in diameter and 4 ft. high. Two (? three) bucket urns containing cremations from the 'Rainbarrows' are in D.C.M. (Dorset Procs. XXIX (1908), 136; Ant. J. XIII (1933), 446; Arch. J. CXIX (1962), 65). A barrow formerly existed at 73469104, near Norris Mill, but it was almost entirely carted away in 1872, being composed of sand and gravel; of twelve urns which were found in the top of it, two survive in D.C.M. (Cunnington MS. No. 5; Dorset Procs. XXIX (1908), 140; B.A.P. II, figs. 424, 424a; Arch. J. CXIX (1962), 65).
Three barrows (25–27), 'Rainbarrows', lie on Duddle Heath at just over 300 ft. O.D., near the S. end of a ridge, overlooking the valley of the R. Frome.
(25) Bowl (73469212), has been much damaged by a large hole dug into the centre and by a boundary bank which crosses the E. side of the mound. Part of the E. side has been cut away to make a ride at the edge of a plantation. Diam. 75 ft., ht. 7½ ft. Traces of ditch.

<4> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 07-NOV-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<5> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 4123-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO10756.

<6> 15-FEB-2005, NMR SY 7392/3-5 (23748/10-12) (Aerial Photograph). SDO10755.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB86/05035 (Index). SDO14738.

SOUTHERN BARROW OF THREE. Donor: UNKNOWNCopyright: UNKNOWN

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB86/05036 (Index). SDO14738.

SOUTHERN BARROW OF THREE. Donor: UNKNOWNCopyright: UNKNOWN

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB86/05037 (Index). SDO14738.

SOUTHERN BARROW OF THREE. Donor: UNKNOWNCopyright: UNKNOWN

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455027 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Sources/Archives (10)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Map 6in. 6 inch to 1 mile. 1902.
  • <2> Monograph: Grinsell, L V. 1959. Dorset Barrows. 129.
  • <3> Monograph: Royal Commission on Historic Monuments. 1970. An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2. 2. 231.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Barton, J G. Various. Field Investigators Comments JGB. F1 JGB 07-NOV-80.
  • <5> Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 22-JAN-1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431 4123-4.
  • <6> Aerial Photograph: 15-FEB-2005. NMR SY 7392/3-5 (23748/10-12).
  • <7> Index: Historic England. Historic England Archive. BB86/05035.
  • <8> Index: Historic England. Historic England Archive. BB86/05036.
  • <9> Index: Historic England. Historic England Archive. BB86/05037.
  • <10> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 455027.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Location

Grid reference Centred SY 7353 9200 (39m by 45m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SY79SW
Civil Parish Puddletown; Dorset
Unitary Authority Dorset

Protected Status/Designation

Other Statuses/References

  • Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 094 027
  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 79 SW 24 C
  • Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 455027
  • Royal Commission Inventory Reference: Puddletown 27

Record last edited

Oct 9 2024 4:16PM

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