Monument record MDO30201 - Historic stone weir, Bindon Abbey, Wool

A weir is visible on aerial photographs of water meadows to the north of Bindon Abbey. A stone structure with nine pointed arches and stone cutwaters. The weir is depicted on a map of around 1656, and is thought to be associated with Bindon Abbey and Bindon Mill.

A limestone-built weir, approx 1.0m wide and 10.0m long containing nine sluices, each built with a slightly pointed arch. On the east side the weir is 1.6m above water level, and on the west it is 0.6m. There are two bastions on the downstream (east) side; one of these being destroyed above water level but the other being 2.5m long by 0.25m wide and 0.5m above water.

The weir was probably connected with Bindon Abbey and the monastic mill which is alleged to have existed there. No documentary evidence could be found during field investigation. <2>

Stony Weir. The extract 'molendinum et piscaria de la Weare' mentioned in 1635 probably refers to this weir on the River Frome and to Bindon Mill. <3>

Stony Weir (name not confirmed) remains as described. It is depicted on a map of circa 1656-7 with the name "Great Stoney Weir". <4>

Stony Weir, a stone structure of nine pointed arches with extended cutwaters on the lower side and remains of cutwaters below water level on the upper side. There are remains of stone paving on the river bed. <5>

A historic stone weir is visible on aerial photographs of water meadows to the north of Bindon Abbey <6>.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1930 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 85188708) Stony Weir (NR)

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 18-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Mills, A D, 1977, The place-names of Dorset, Part 1: the Isle of Purbeck, the hundreds of Rowbarrow, Hasler, Winfrith, Culliford Tree, Bere Regis, Barrow, Puddletown St George, 192 (Monograph). SWX972.

<4> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 26-JUN-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4.1> 1656-7, Plan of weirs on river Frome near Bindon c 1656-7 (Unpublished document). SDO20189.

<5> DOE (HRR), 23 Mar 1983, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: District of Purbeck amendment 1983, 18.8.83 (Scheduling record). SWX3310.

<6> Pan Government Agreement, 2008, PGA (Aerial Photograph). SDO13137.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455128 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 12 2023 5:21PM