Monument record MDO41804 - Undated extractive pits, Kingston Lacy, Pamphill

Irregular ditched and banked features to the south of Kingston Lacy Park are visible on aerial photographs and current Lidar imagery. The features are considered likely to be earthworks associated with a probable old chalk pit recorded in the NHRE (Hob UID 209490), date uncertain.They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

New site on A/P taken by F/Lt. Wrudge March 28th. 1927. Visited 21.v.27. Many flakes (one of pal. axe (?)) and a scraper, innumerable pot boilers, some thin pieces of oolite (modern ?) found. The remains visible on the air photo are quite clear - interior lower than rim - no bank can be seen for certain round outer edge. Old Chalk pit or a 'Windmill Hill'? [Area centred on ST 9770 0032]. <1>

The following observations were made during an examination of this area: (i) There are a number of large, rather vague (the whole of the area has been under the plough at some time) depressions here - the best defined at ST 9771 0027. This is some 50.0 m. across and up to 1.5m. in depth. (ii) The south eastern part of the area is at present under the plough and a marked scatter of chalk can be traced along a line extending from ST9769 0024 to ST 9776 0031. Another heavy scatter is visible in the field to the west. (iii) A number of calcined flints can be found in this area. <2>

The general appearance of this site (a depression set into the natural slope) confirms the suggestion in T.I that it might be an old chalk/marl pit. [Centred ST. 97660030]. <3>

Irregular ditched and banked features to the south of Kingston Lacy Park are visible on aerial photographs and current Lidar imagery <4-5>

The features comprise a large sub-circular depression approximately 113m by 97m, with sections of outer retaining bank and some potential inner banks or mounds. To the southeast are a further two smaller sub-circular depressions between 25m and 33m in diameter, visible on current Lidar imagery <5>. The features are considered likely to be earthworks associated with a probable old chalk pit recorded in the NHRE (Hob UID 209490), date uncertain.

The site is still fields under crop on current Google Earth imagery and the features are still visible as cropmarks and parchmarks in certain years. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

<1> Crawford, O G S, Annotated record map 6 inch (Map). SWX7265.

<1.1> Royal Air Force, 10 Group RAF B.287 P. 1200' oblique (Aerial Photograph). SDO19352.

<2> Work, R L B, 1954, Field Investigators Comments RLBW, F1 RLB 15-MAR-54 (Unpublished document). SWX3791.

<3> Clarke, Arthur, Various, Field Investigators Comments AC, F2 AC 23-MAR-54 (Unpublished document). SDO19022.

<4> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FS 2195-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16278.

<5> Environment Agency, XX-XXX-2015, Environment Agency DTM Lidar 50cm (Aerial Photograph). SDO15306.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209490 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2023 4:52PM