Monument record MDO41651 - Possible post medieval extractive pit, Corfe Mullen

A possible post medieval extractive pit on open heathland at Corfe Mullen is visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The feature may be a post medieval extractive pit but could alternatively be of modern military origin, perhaps a weapons pit. Alternatively the feature could be result of animal burrowing. It was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

A possible post medieval extractive pit on open heathland at Corfe Mullen is visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

The feature comprises an area of disturbed ground around 5m by 4m in extent, with irregular raised banks and hollows within this.

Similar features are visible across large parts of the Dorset heathland, typically situated within areas of both post medieval extraction and early 20th Century military activity. It is often hard to positively identify these small banked and ditched features with one or the other, although some are more clearly military in origin. The feature may be a post medieval extractive pit but could alternatively be of modern military origin, perhaps weapons pits. Alternatively the feature could be result of animal burrowing.

The site is under housing on current Google Earth imagery and the feature is no longer visible, presumed levelled. It was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

<1> Royal Air Force, 05-SEP-47, RAF/CPE/UK/2289 Vp3 5291-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16203.

Record last edited

Sep 4 2018 12:28PM