Monument record MDO41155 - Post medieval extractive pits, Knighton Heath, Poole

An area of possible post medieval extraction on Knighton Heath is visible on 1940's aerial photographs. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

An area of possible post medieval extraction on Knighton Heath is visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

The features comprise a number of variously sized irregular scarped depressions, which are very shallow in depth and criss-crossed in places by paths and trackways.

The features may be associated with post medieval extraction on Knighton Heath ; the heathland on which the features are situated in 1945 (part of Knighton Heath) is typically scarred by widescale post medieval extraction, which is characteristically shallow but with some areas of deeper extraction also present. However, in places the features may alternatively be the result of erosion through the passage of vehicles or people; the area may have been used for wartime military training and associated activities, which may have resulted in erosion scars. Within some features there are the traces of faint earthworks that may suggest similar enclosures and dugout features as those to the southeast (MDO41154), which may indicate the extractive areas saw some modern military re-use.

The site is still open heath on current Google Earth imagery but the features are no longer visible as the area is under low heathland scub and vegetation. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 08-MAR-45, RAF/106G/LA/163 RP 3022-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16044.

Record last edited

Sep 5 2023 10:34AM