Monument record MDO3411 - Rowden, Bronze Age settlement, Winterbourne Steepleton

Earthwork traces of a Bronze Age settlement complex, recorded by RCHM and excavated in 1981. It is also visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs.

Two alleged pond barrows (features 'a' and 'c' on plan, located by Grinsell at SY 61538937 and SY 61648933) are probably hut circles associated with the settlement. <1>

(Centred SY 616892). Settlement probably prehistoric (SY 61538937-61668904), covered 8 acres of former downland called 'Rowden', which divided two blocks of open fields; it was examined before destruction in 1962. The features were not necessarily contemporary but all except (e) (see plan) appeared to be linked by tracks. They lay at around 500 ft above OD facing West on the brow above a dry valley in the chalk.

From the North the complex comprised: (a) (see plan), a hut-circle 14ft across within an incomplete angular enclosure of 1/6 acre, itself apparently set within an irregular enclosure of 1 1/2 acres; (b) 80 yds South East, a circular hut-platform 20ft across set against the East end of the South bank of the last-named enclosure; (c) a hut-platform 15ft across, immediately North East of (b); (d) 300 yds further South an angular enclosure of 3/5 acre; and (e) 100 yds East of (c) the soil-mark of an irregular oblong enclosure, long ploughed flat, abot 2/5 acre in area. A large circular platform (f) with almost flat floor 36ft across levelled into the slope, was more likely to be a hut-circle and part of the settlement than a pond barrow. (See SY 68 NW 28).

A terrace-way 10ft to 15ft wide ran from due East of (a) South East for about 280 yds to a disturbed junction of tracks. A broad slightly sunken way 45ft wide ran downhill West from this junction, its lower end hollowed on the South side by later usage. Traces of a track ran South from the junction towards (d) from which a track extended North to meet it. This last led round the East side of (d) to an entrance where it was met by a further track from the East.

Slight lynchets and banks within the area indicated cultivation but there were no certain contacts with 'Celtic' fields. The nature of the remains and the existence of at least six barrows around (d) suggest that this area never bore 'Celtic' fields and was reserved early for settlement. <2>

This settlement, centred at SY 616892 and covering approximately 5.0 ha., is not destroyed (as reported) and although much reduced,it is generally as described by RCHM (1). It lies in permanent pasture above a steep W facing valley slopes. Probable hut platforms occur at SY 61628913 and SY 61628917 in addition to those shown on RCHM plan. The feature at SY 61708913 (SY 68 NW 28 'E') described as 'Bowl ?barrow -almost destroyed' (RCHM 56) is possibly also a hut platform, though too badly mutilated to be certain, and Grinsell's 'pond barrows' are the same. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD.(3)

SY 616891 Late Bronze Age complex at Rowden. Excavation in 1981 of four elements of the settlement (see plan) plus systematic field walking has, in general, confirmed the Royal Commission's earthwork interpretation of the site. (4)





Earthwork traces of a settlement of probable Mid-Late Bronze Age date are recorded on an area of former downland called 'Rowden', which divided two blocks of open fields. It is now under permanent pasture, situated above a steep west-facing valley slope, around 500 ft above OD.

The site was examined by Grinsell in 1959 {1}. The remains were reported to comprise of several hut platforms, irregular enclosures, trackways and terraceways. It was noted that these features were not necessarily contemporary but did all appear to be linked by tracks. Several barrows are also recorded in this area (MDO3399-403), one of which (MDO3403) is now thought more likely to be a hut platform.

The RCHM noted slight lynchets and banks within the area, suggesting cultivation, although these bear no certain association with the surrounding with 'Celtic' fields. The nature of the remains and the existence of barrows suggest that this area never bore 'Celtic' fields and was reserved early for settlement {2}.

Excavation in 1981 of four elements of the settlement, including hut hollows, the double lynchet way and droveway, field banks and the enclosure, plus systematic field walking has, in general, confirmed the Royal Commission's earthwork interpretation of the site as being a settlement of Mid-Late Bronze Age origin {3}.

The site is also visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs {4-11} and 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, 510-11 (Monograph). SDO150.

(64) SETTLEMENT, probably prehistoric (SY 68 NW; 61538937–61668904), lay in Ancient Field Group (3) (Fig. opp. p. 624) and covered 8 acres of former downland called 'Rowden', which divided two blocks of open fields (Winterbourne Steepleton (12), p. 396); it was examined before destruction in 1962. The features were not necessarily contemporary but all except (e) appeared to be linked by tracks. They lay at around 500 ft. above O.D. facing W. on the brow above a dry valley in the chalk. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1934: 3095–6.)
From the N. the complex comprised: (a) a hut-circle 14 ft. across within an incomplete angular enclosure of 1/6 acre, itself apparently set within an irregular enclosure of 1½ acres; (b) 80 yds. S.E., a circular hut-platform 20 ft. across set against the E. end of the S. bank of the last-named enclosure; (c) a hut-platform 15 ft. across, to the N.E. of (b); (d) 300 yds. further S., an angular enclosure of 3/5 acre; and (e) 100 yds. E. of (c), the soil-mark of an irregular oblong enclosure, long ploughed flat, about 2/5 acre in area. A large circular platform (f), with almost flat floor 36 ft. across levelled into the slope, was more likely to be a hut-circle and part of the settlement than a pond barrow.
A terrace-way 10 ft. to 15 ft. wide ran from due E. of (a) S.E. for about 280 yds. to a disturbed junction of tracks. A broad slightly sunken way 45 ft. wide ran downhill W. from this junction, its lower end hollowed on the S. side by later usage. Traces of a track ran S. from the junction towards (d), from which a track extended N. to meet it. This last led round the E. side of (d) to an entrance where it was met by a further track from the E.
Slight lynchets and banks within the area indicated cultivation but there were no certain contacts with 'Celtic' fields. The nature of the remains and the existence of at least six barrows around (d) suggest that this area never bore 'Celtic' fields and was reserved early for settlement.
For further possible settlement areas see Ancient Field Group (3).

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 01-APR-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> Woodward, P J, 1982, Excavations at `Rowden', Winterbourne Steepleton, 1981, an interim note, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society 103, 119-121 (Article in serial). SDO19847.

<5> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3095-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11865.

<6> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4279-81 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11791.

<7> 11-6-1978, NMR OS/78080 029-30 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11866.

<8> Royal Air Force, 09-MAR-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2475 3067-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11792.

<9> 21-4-1984, NMR OS/84038 359-60 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11807.

<10> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 5095-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11867.

<11> XX-XXX-2002, Google Earth (Aerial Photograph). SDO11868.

<12> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 883268 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Settlement at Rowden, Winterbourne Steepleton, Dorset. Bar drawn but with no values

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB72/03981C (Index). SDO14738.

TRACES EVIDENT SY 6153 8937 - 6166 8904.PROB. PREHISTORIC MORE PHOTOS TAKEN 1980 (SITE NOT DESTROYED).THIS PHOTO PRINTED IN REVERSE

<15> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452508 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 17 2023 4:05PM