Monument record MDO40359 - Undated enclosure, Colebarrow, Hope Farm, Holt

A sub rectangular enclosure depicted on a map produced around AD 1600 and possibly a small hillfort of late Bronze Age or early Iron Age date. Half of the enclosure earthwork circuit has been destroyed during the 20th century. The possible site of a later prehistoric, possibly a small hillfort of late Bronze Age or Iron Age date, is visible as cropmarks and earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1946 at Hope Farm Holt. It was digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP.

A sub rectangular enclosure is depicted at this lcoation on a map of Holt Forest produced around 1600AD by Rychard Hardinge. A later map of 1774 by William Woodward shows an oval enclosure together with the contemporary field system. This allows us to superimpose the Woodward Map on to the earliest Ordnance Survey with some degree of accuracy. Following on subsequent maps shows progressive damage to the earthworks as more land is enclosed and houses built on parts of the site in the 20th century. Some of sections of the circuit survive as lowered inner bank, and partly infilled outer ditch.

It is has been suggested as a small hillfort or enclosed settlement of late Bronze Age or early Iron Age date. <1, 2>

The possible site of a later prehistoric, possibly a small hillfort of late Bronze Age or Iron Age date, is visible as cropmarks and earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1946 at Hope Farm Holt (1-2). It was digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP. The enclosure is 170m across and was first recorded around 1600AD on Rychard Harding's map of Holt Forest and then later on William Woodward's map of 1774AD. The enclosure is partially fossilised in extant field boundaries, it has been disturbed by 20th century development.

<1> Hanks, Nick, An Historic Assessment of Holt Forest and Holt Wood for English Nature (Unpublished document). SDO19468.

<2> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<3> Dorset County Council, XX-XXX-2009, Dorset CC Vertical Digital Photo Tile (Aerial Photograph). SDO13314.

<4> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RS 4083-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15750.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1456741 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 11 2025 12:12PM