Monument record MDO3143 - Bell barrow, one of the Bronkham Hill group, Winterborne St Martin

Site of a probable Bronze Age bell barrow, part of a larger barrow cemetery. Recorded as an extant mound by field investigators and also visible as an earthwork on aerial photos.

A mound 60 feet diameter and five feet high is placed on the main mound which is 104 feet diameter, the total height being 1 ten feet. This seems to be a ‘double decker’ bell barrow. Large hole in top. It is possible that this barrow has been interfered with and its shape modified {1}.

Bell barrow, 92ft. In diam and now about 14ft. High, although originally probably only about 10ft. Apparently has two berms, but upper probably the result of spoil form excavation trench 18ft. Wide through centre of mound. Lower berm is 20ft. Wide at the most, with stone mound 15ft. In diam and 1ft. High . Ditch is 21ft. Wide and 3ft. Deep. {2}.

Bell barrow, overall diameter 58.0m., height 7.2m. Above ditch. Berm 6.0m. Wide on average; ditch 6.5m., wide and 1.0m. Deep. Stone mound at SY 62698686 on berm, 5.0m. In diameter. A massive excavation ditch on the north side, 6.0m. Wide and up to 2.0m. Deep., spoil being thrown out to each side. Ditch destroyed on the south side by a track for 16.0m., it also contains three deep solution-hollows in the N.E. quadrant. {3}.

Also visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs {4-8}, overall diameter measuring approximately 46.5 metres in diameter. This site was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows (Monograph). SDO132.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 466 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(43) Bell (62708687) 45 yds. S.E. of (42). Diam. 92 ft., ht. now about 14 ft., but originally probably about 10 ft. only. Apparently has two berms, but upper probably result of spoil from N.-S. excavation trench 18 ft. wide through centre of mound. Lower berm 20 ft. wide at most, with stone mound 15 ft. in diam. and 1 ft. high on it on E. Ditch 21 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep.’

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> Royal Air Force, 22-1-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 3295-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11932.

<5> 14-4-1957, CUCAP (UM64) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11944.

<6> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3293-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11893.

<7> 1-9-2004, NMR SY6286/10 (23722/03) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11948.

<8> unknown date, NMR SY6286/2 (CCC 1755/5900) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11945.

<9> Papworth, M, 1983, The South Dorset Ridgeway Project: condition and management survey, SDR 282 (Index). SDO12304.

Bell barrow, overall diameter 58.0m and ht. 7.2m above ditch. Berm 6.0m wide on average and ditch 6.5m, 1.0m deep. A massive excavation ditch has been cut from the centre to the upper edge of the berm on the N side 6.0m wide and up to 2.0m deep. Ditch destroyed on the S side by a track for 16.0m. Situated in heathland. 1/2/B

<10> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South Dorset Ridgeway Barrow Survey 2010 (Unpublished document). SDO12407.

Record last edited

Sep 17 2021 10:03AM