Monument record MDO3741 - Bowl barrow east of Gourd's Farm, Compton Down, Compton Abbas

The remains of a Bronze Age bowl barrow 800m east of Gourd's Farm, situated in a prominent position on Compton Down. The barrow has a mound 15m north-south by 11m east-west and 0.6m high. The elongated shape is the result of ploughing which has eroded the east and west sides of the mound. A geophysical survey carried out on and around the barrow by Geophysical Surveys of Bradford for AC Archaeology indicated that there was no ditch surrounding the mound. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water.

The monument includes the remains of a bowl barrow 800m east of Gourd's Farm, situated in a prominent position, on Compton Down. The barrow has a mound 15m north-south by 11m east-west and 0.6m high. The elongated shape is the result of ploughing which has eroded the east and west sides of the mound. A geophysical survey carried out on and around the barrow by Geophysical Surveys of Bradford for AC Archaeology indicated that there was no ditch surrounding the mound.

A bowl barrow, 45 feet in diameter and 1 1/2 feet high, in arable land. <2>

ST 88511894 A grass covered bowl barrow, elongated by recent ploughing; it is now 12.0m north-south by 10.0m east-west and up to 0.5m high. There is no visible ditch. Clearly defined on OS air photographs <3.1>.

Resurveyed at 1:2500 on AM. ST 88411895 A conspicuous, dark circular soil-mark, diameter about 8.0m; situated on a gentle west facing slope in flinty-ploughland probably represents another barrow site. Poorly defined on OS air photographs <3.1>.

Sited at 1:2500 on AM. <3>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

ST 88511894 Tumulus

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 15 (Monograph). SDO99.

(13) BOWL BARROW (88511894), over 700 ft. above sea-level, on the neck of the spur of Compton Down, lies in arable land. Diam. 45 ft. ht. 1.5ft.

<3> Barrett, G, Various, Field Investigators Comments GB, F1 GB 12-JAN-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<3.1> Ordnance Survey, 6.6.75, OS 75/371 142 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17853.

<4> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 101 (Monograph). SDO132.

<5> Shiel, D, 1994, Report on Geophysical Survey, Melbury Abbas Bypass (Unpublished document). SDO16801.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205889 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 11 2024 2:51PM