Monument record MDO40595 - Possible post medieval extractive pits, Jumpers Common, Christchurch

A cluster of three shallow sub-circular ditched features on the Avon floodplain to the southwest of Jumpers Common are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The features appear possibly re-cut by 1946 to form linear trenches. They may be of post medieval to 20th century origin, possibly extractive pits or former bomb craters that have been re-used, possibly for further extraction or as military practice trenches. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

A cluster of three shallow sub-circular ditched features on the Avon floodplain to the southwest of Jumpers Common are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

In a 1945 aerial photograph the features appear as shallow sub-circular or sub-oval depressions - measuring between 5m and 7m wide and 7m and 10m long (1). They are similar in appearance to a further group of three depressions to the southeast (MDO40594).

In a 1946 aerial photograph the features appear re-cut to form linear trenches - these are simlar in form to a dispersed group of features (MDO40596) visible on the same photograph , that have the appearance of possible military practice trenches, although they may simply be evidence of ongoing extraction (2).

It is possible the features originate from post medieval extractive pits or perhaps early wartime bomb craters. Their subsequent use may also be for extraction - or alternatively as military practice trenches.

The site is within the golf course on current Google Earth imagery and the features are no longer obviously visible; one feature may be re-used as a bunker. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

<1> Royal Air Force, 11-OCT-45, RAF/106G/T/10 FV 7481-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15887.

<2> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RS 4269-70 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15886.

Record last edited

Apr 11 2018 11:00AM