Monument record MDO398 - Round barrow in Seven Barrow Plantation, Bradford Peverell

A group of barrows and mounds in Seven Barrow Plantation: (2)
Further mounds in Seven Barrow Plantation are shown on OS 25" 1929 and OS 6" 1963 but not mentioned by RCHM or Grinsell.

'P' - SY 64769253. Shown but not described on RCHM plan. No further information. (6)

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.

'P'. SY 64779251. A bowl barrow, 17.0 metres in diameter and 2.0 metres high, with no visible ditch. (See ground photograph). Barrows surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (7)

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

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

Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1986, Dorset Barrow Survey, Papworth, MDJ 18 January 1986 (Index). SDO134.

‘This barrow may be scheduled but not mentioned by site visits in the 1950s by Ordnance Survey, Grinsell and RCHM, although RCHM marks the site on its map of the barrow group (RCHM/1952/Dorset Vol 1 p35). The reason for the omission is mentioned by Rigg (Desc text/OS 495/Rigg J/1954) – “the area in which these barrows lie is so densely covered with trees and undergrowth that it could only be penetrated in part”. Quinnell (Desc text/OS 495/Quinnell N V/1981) notes a radical change to the area by 1981 – “the undergrowth which obscured the group and limited investigation has been removed and the NW half of the area completely cleared of woodland. This part is regularly used as a cattle pen, with the consequence that sever damage is incurred by their trampling”. This prominent rise is unploughed and has two trees remaining on its NW side. The surface of the mound is uneven with old tree stumps visible. A track passes immediately to the east of the barrow. Further east is a fenced area used for storing bales of straw. The cleared area around the mound has been ploughed and planted with grass. Damage from basal ploughing slight at present. An unusual and important group including three long barrows. The recent change in land use threatens previously unploughed substantial earthworks; some scheduled monuments have been ploughed for the first time.’

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 Report on Archaeological Geophysical Survey 2013 (Unpublished document).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

Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 17-MAR-81 (Unpublished document).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

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 35-6 (Monograph). SDO97.

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 96 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Lovell, J, 1997, 33KV Mains Replacement, Bradford Peverell, Dorset. Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SDO12343.

Record last edited

Nov 27 2024 1:58PM