Monument record MDO386 - Long barrow in Seven Barrow Plantation, Bradford Peverell

A mound interpreted as a small long barrow, one of a group of at least twelve barrows in the plantation. In 1952 this monument was described as an earthwork about 87 feet long. The mound was around 44 feet wide at its widest point, and varied in height between 3½ and 5 feet.

A group of barrows and mounds in Seven Barrow Plantation: (2)

'C' - (SY 64799240). Probably a small long barrow, orientated north-east/south-west, about 87 ft long and a maximum width of 44ft towards the north east end. The height varies from 5 to 3.75ft. (RCHM No 12b; Grinsell's Bradford Peverell long barrow No III). (3)

The area in which these barrows lie is so densely covered with trees and undergrowth that it could only be penetrated in part. Mounds 'D','E','F','G','L', and 'M' appear to be bowl barrows and 'C' a long barrow.

SY 647923; SY 648924. Bradford Peverell long barrows 3 and 4 listed by Ashbee. (5)

An unusual barrow group situated near the crest of a broad south-west spur. The undergrowth which formerly obscured the group and limited investigation has been removed and the north-west half of the area completely cleared of woodland. This part is regularly used as a cattle pen with the consequence that severe damage is incurred by their trampling, especially to the lower monuments. See plan and ground photographs.

'C'. SY 64789239. A long barrow with a NE to SW. orientation. It is 26.0 metres long and 10.0 metres wide with no recognisably wider end; the height is 1.3 metres. There is a ditch along the north-west side, 4.0 metres wide and 0.2 metres deep, which is traceable around the north-east end and part of the south-east side, any continuation having been destroyed by a trackway. (See ground photograph). Barrows surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25 inch scale map, 1929 (Map). SDO18020.

(Centred SY 647924) Tumuli (NR) (fifteen shown)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 35-36 (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(12) BARROWS AND MOUNDS in Seven Barrow Plantation, about ¾ m. S.W. of the church, are twelve in number, much overgrown. … (b) mound, 45 yards S. of (a), probably a small long-barrow, is about 87 ft. long and a maximum of 44 ft. wide towards the N.E. end; the height varies from 5 to 3½ ft. …’

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 13-SEP-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 35-6 (Monograph). SDO132.

<5> Ashbee, P, 1970, The Earthen Long Barrow in Britain, 161 (Monograph). SDO16712.

<6> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 17-MAR-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<7> Bartlett, A, 2013, Seven Barrow Plantation, Penn Hill, Bradford Peverell, West Dorset. Report on Archaeological Geophysical Survey 2013 (Unpublished document). SDO16515.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453739 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 15 2024 10:16AM