Monument record MDO3697 - Burial at Chettle House, Chettle

Four or five skeletons are said to have been found at Chettle House around 1934. The skeletons were described as being about 2 ft below the ground surface, lying in crouched positions, and arranged in a circle.

[ST 9533 1311] During the lifetime of my late uncle MAJOR E W F CASTLEMAN of CHETTLE HOUSE, some British skeletons were unearthed. My uncle told me about them. <1.1>

The skeletons were dug up by myself about 20 years ago while the foundations of a road were being dug. There were 4 or 5 skeletons, crouched on their sides and arranged in a circle. They were about 2 ft under the ground and there were no apparent [cists]. I cannot remember if there was a mound over them or if there was any pottery or [grave goods]. The remains were given to the Pitt Rivers Museum. MR NOBLES pointed out the site which is now covered by a metalled cart track. Pitt Rivers found many crouched R B burials in this part of Dorset. <1.2>

There is no record of the find in this museum and they were certainly not brought here. <1.3>

No search was made of the records of the Pitt Rivers Museum. MR ST.GEORGE GRAYS reply was spontaneous. <1>
[Note that the Pitt Rivers Museum collection has since been moved to Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum]

<1> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 13-APR-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<1.1> Bourke, Mrs E M, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Mrs E M Bourke, Chettle House, 13.4.54 (Verbal communication). SDO18353.

<1.2> Nobles, Mr, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Mr Nobles, Odd Job Man at Chettle House, 13.4.54 (Verbal communication). SDO18354.

<1.3> Gray, H St George, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: H St George Gray, Curator, Pitt Rivers Museum, 13.4.54 (Verbal communication). SDO18355.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1965, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1964, 119 (Serial). SDO64.

‘(v) Chettle House. Four or five crouched skeletons arranged in a circle about 2 ft below surface are said to have been found c. 1934 at ST 95331311, by Mr. Nobles, an employee on the estate. The site is on Upper Chalk.’

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210079 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2022 4:09PM