Monument record MDO31253 - Medieval hunting lodge, Creech Barrow Hill, Church Knowle

Medieval hunting lodge belonging to the Royal Purbeck Forest on the summit of Creech Barrow Hill, Church Knowle. The sub-square banked enclosure 104m across, is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. Footings of a stone tower and associated banks, one of three in Purbeck Chase.

SY 92148240. A hunting lodge belonging to Royal Purbeck Foreststood on the summit of Creeck Barrow Hill. It is mentioned in a record of 1583, and is shown as a round tower on Treswell's map of Purbeck (1586), where it is named 'Crech barrow Lodge'.

The remains consist of a limestone wall 4 feet thick by 1 1/2 feet high, forming a rectangle 30 feet north-south by 25 feet. 16th or 17th century pottery and a Medieval sherd have been found in the vicinity.

The remains of the tower are situated at the centre of a symmetrical arrangement of ditched banks up to 3 feet high, which in plan form a Greek cross, the arms running downhill, within a square measuring about 110 yards each way. The west bank has almost disappeard. A bank between the north-west angle and the parish boundary is probably an addition. Dates are unknown. <1-3>

The flat summit of this prominent knoll affords panoramic views in almost every direction but the majority of the top and the steep slopes are covered by a dense growth of bramble and gorse vegitation.The stone footings of the rectangular structure can still be seen at SY 92148239, on the highest point of the hill. They measure approximately 9.1m by c7.8m with the 1.2m thick walling, mostly at ground surface level, composed of (?) mortared limestone slabs and rubble. The whole has been disturbed, probably by excavation.

The hilltop and especially the northern hillside has been extensively mutilated by old excavations. Numerous amorphus pits, sinuous scarps and parts of the "arrangement of ditched banks" are visible but under the prevailing conditions they were imprecisely observed and certainly unserveyable. Rectangular footings surveyed at 1/2500.

SY 92148237. A large, well defined rectangular scoop lies on the south side of the summit area some 15.0m from the rectangular structure. It measures approximately 17.0m by 10.0m with a flat floor from 1.5 to 2.1m below ground level. The side scarps are clean-cut and almost vertical and on the downhill sides an earthern bank augments the natural slope whilst the spread of excavated spoil has been utilized to form a `D' shaped platform. A narrow channel, excavated to the floor level leads from the interior towards the steep hillslopes on the east side. The origin and purpose of this feature are not clear however it appears to be of no great age and may be a reservoir perhaps supplying water to the clay pits or adjacent mine at the foot of the slopes (SY 92133217). Surveyed at 1/2500. <4>

Medieval hunting lodge belonging to the Royal Purbeck Forest on the summit of Creech Barrow Hill, Church Knowle. The sub-square banked enclosure 104m across, is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs (1-3). Internal banks form a cross within the center of which a tower once stood. The lodge enclosure and remains of associated internal features are still visible on the most recent Google Earth imagery. They were digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck NMP.

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1955, 153 (Serial). SDO55.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1955, 153 (Serial). SDO55.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 49 (Monograph). SDO148.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 49 (Monograph). SDO148.

<3> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 216 (Index). SDO147.

'Site lies in rough grassland with bracken. Foundations still visible. Site lies in rough grassland with bracken. Foundations still visible.'

<4> Fletcher, Martin, Field investigator's comments MJF, 4-MAY-1986 (Unpublished document). SDO17630.

<5> National Monuments Record, 18-NOV-2005, NMR SY 9282/9-17 (NMR 24140/39-47) (Aerial Photograph). SDO13621.

<6> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2415-16 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13622.

<7> Royal Air Force, 12-MAY-1946, RAF 3G/TUG/UK206 PTI 5017-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13623.

<8> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457060 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 10 2024 2:58PM