Monument record MDO3585 - Enclosure and ditch in Thornicombe Bottom, Blandford St Mary

A plough-levelled irregular oval enclosure measuring some 200 feet by 140 feet, defined by a single ditch some 6-8 feet wide. There seems to be a simple gap-entrance in the south-southeastern part of the enclosure. The enclosure is undated, but probably broadly Prehistoric. Aerial photographic evidence suggests that, unusually, the former earthwork bank lay outside the ditch. The ditched enclosure was digitally plotted from aerial photographs during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM.

ENCLOSURE AND DITCH, in Thorncombe Bottom, have been completely flattened by cultivation in the past and are identifiable only as soil marks brought to the surface by deep ploughing. They lie at about 250 ft. above O.D. on the S. slope of a low Chalk spur, extending E. and covered with a thin, patchy layer of Clay-with-Flints The enclosure (86550300) is an irregular oval, approximately 200 ft. by 140 ft. and about 3/5 acre in area; it is defined by a ditch 6 ft. to 8 ft. across, with a simple gap entrance on the S.S.E. Air photographs suggest that the bank lay outside the ditch. On the N.E. the enclosure dips into the head of a narrow gully where an oval brown earth patch represents the fill of a depression, probably a 'marl-pit' of relatively recent date. Within the enclosure are two slight E.-W. scarps, possibly lynchets; the lower scarp seems to continue outside the enclosure, suggesting that the enclosure was built over it. No 'finds' or other evidences of occupation are recorded. The ditch (86420292, centre) comprises a shallow curve of bank and ditch, 550 ft. long, appearing in the plough on the E. side of a modern field hedge running N.-S.; there is no clear indication of it W. of the hedge. It is not known whether it is part of an enclosure or of a longer linear work. Spread chalk indicates that the bank lies on the W. of the ditch. <1-2>

Blandford St Mary 39. Tombstone or D-shaped enclosure. Two roughly parallel but not straight, sides and two rounded ends with entrance at angle, down hill. [Plans of comparable sites]. <3-4>

The ditched enclosure was digitally plotted from aerial photographs <10> during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM. It is 63m by 45m across and appears to have a large pit (possibly not contemporary) at its north east end.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 46 (Monograph). SDO146.

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 1099-1094 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17786.

<3> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 24 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<4> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 91 (Monograph). SWX800.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, RCH01/096 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME Inventory: Dorset III (Central): A large collection of archive relating to the RCHME Dorset Inventory Volume III, published in 1970. It contains field surveys and excavation archive. Parish files containing original surveys have been given child collection status.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB74/04560 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW NORTH

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA72/02487 (Index). SDO14738.

SOIL MARKS OF UNDATED ENCLOSURES: Photographer: UNKNOWNDonor: UNKNOWNCopyright: UNKNOWN

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205717 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<10> J R Boyden, 01-APR-1966, JRB 9713/2 11 A 12 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19469.

Record last edited

Jul 22 2024 12:17PM