Monument record MDO3523 - Round barrow, on the parish boundary with Fontmell Magna, Ashmore

A Bronze Age round barrow on the boundary between Fontmell Magna and Ashmore parishes. The monument was destroyed in the nineteenth century and a contemporary report indicates that bones were found during its removal.

A round barrow on the road to Fontmell Magna near Washer's Pit was demolished about 1840, whilst a new road was being made. The bones it contained were buried in the church yard. Sited by Grinsell and RCHM at ST 897168. Listed by Grinsell under bowl barrows. <1-3>

The name 'Washers Pit' probably applies to a dry pond at ST 89701677, a low lying position at the junction of three valleys, and an unusual barrow situation. No trace of a barrow was found. The surrounding high ground was perambulated but no feature of archaeological significance was noted. <4>

<1> Watson E W, 1890, A History of the Parish (Monograph). SDO17883.

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 87 (Monograph). SDO132.

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

A round barrow, from which bones were recovered when it was removed during the 19th century, lay near 897168 on the boundary with Fontmell Magna (Watson, op. cit., 3, 20)

<4> Barrett, G, Various, Field Investigators Comments GB, SDO17369 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205938 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 14 2022 12:50PM