Monument record MDO39518 - Historic or modern enclosures, Barnfield Heath, Christchurch

A concentration of small historic or modern enclosures on Barnfield Heath are visible on 1940s aerial photographs and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP.

A concentration of small historic or modern enclosures on Barnfield Heath are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

The sub-circular enclosures number 20 or more. Some appear semi-circular with wide entrances, some wholly circular with no obvious entrances at all. Most survive as low banked enclosures, others as shallow ditches. Typically they measure between 5m and 7m across.

The enclosures may be modern and associated with wider wartime military activity on the heathland north of Christchurch. Alternativelythey may be medieval or post medieval agricultural enclosures, possibly bee gardens.

The enclosures was sited on open heathland in 1949, at which time some appeared as relatively indistinct and overgrown, others in better condition as low scrubby banks (1). They are no longer visible on current Google Earth imagery.

The enclosures were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 07-NOV-49, RAF/541/381/RS 4032 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15478.

Record last edited

Sep 28 2017 3:07PM