Monument record MDO39615 - Probable post medieval extractive pits, East Parley, Hurn, Christchurch

A concentration of rectilinear and irregular hollows on the west side of Chapel Lane, East Parley, are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are thought to be probable post medieval extractive pits and were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

A concentration of linear hollows or pits on the west side of Chapel Lane, East Parley, are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1 and 2).

Many of the hollows have straight rectangular sides and vary between 5m and 9m long by 1.5m to 3m wide. Some are more irregular in shape. One noticeably larger pit measures around 35m long by 4m wide, broadly rectilinear but with some irregularity . It is considered likely that these hollows are post medieval extractive pits or sand pits. An aerial photograph of 1959 shows the pits filled with water (3). BY 1962, however, the pits may have been filled in as the site appears as uneven ground, with some undulation but with no pits or hollows visible (4).

The site is currently under sports fields associated with Bournemouth Sports Club and none of the features are visible on current Google Earth imagery.

The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RS 4168 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15448.

<2> Royal Air Force, 26-MAR-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2548 V 5098 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15519.

<3> Royal Air Force, 24-JAN-59, RAF/58/2679 F22 76 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15520.

<4> Royal Air Force, 31-AUG-62, RAF/543/1859 F21 480 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15443.

Record last edited

Oct 4 2017 3:41PM