Monument record MDO3522 - Pond, Ashmore

A circular pond some thirty six metres in diameter, situated at the centre of Ashmore village. The origins of the pond are unknown, and it may have been a natural feature that was subsequently artificially enlarged. A Roman date for this enlargement was suggested in the 1920s, but has yet to be substantiated by any archaeological evidence.

Ashmore is suggested by Crawford to possibly occupy the site of a Romano-British upland settlement, of which large ponds were afeature. The place names element 'more' probably comes from Old English 'mere', meaning 'pool'. <1-2>

ST 91291780. A pond in the centre of Ashmore village is circular and some 40 yds in diameter. It may be partly natural but enlarged artifically, perhaps in Roman times. <3>

<1> 1928, Antiquity 2, 184 (Serial). SDO18342.

<2> Fagersten, A, 1933, Place-names of Dorset, 99 (Monograph). SDO17521.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 3 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(19) POND (91291780), at the centre of the village (Plate 32), is circular and some 40 yds. in diameter. Of its origin nothing is known; it may be partly natural, but enlarged artificially, perhaps in Roman times (Crawford, Antiquity) II (1928), 184).'

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210002 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 4:23PM