Monument record MDO39683 - Early 20th century slit trenches, Sopley Common, Hurn

Early 20th century ditched earthworks on Sopley Common are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The earthworks are likely to be early 20th century military slit trenches. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

Early 20th century ditched earthworks on Sopley Common are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

The earthworks are narrow and broadly rectilinear in form, some of the longer more complex earthworks measuring around 18m to 20m in length, with an angular, slightly zig-zag character and small curvilinear protrusions at the angle points and at both ends. They are considered likely to be early 20th century military slit trenches associated with a wider area of military activity on Sopley Common.

The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

The earthworks are within mixed open heath and tree cover in 2017 and are not visible on current Google Earth imagery.

<1> Royal Air Force, 26-MAR-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2548 V 5155-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15555.

Record last edited

Nov 2 2017 10:01AM