Monument record MDO43066 - Possible post medieval chalk pits, Long Ash Lane, Frome St Quintin

Multiple small irregular ditched pits are visible as earthworks on 1940s aerial photographs within a field on the north side of Long Ash Lane, Frome St Quintin. The features are recorded in the NRHE as possible Roman chalk pits. The line of the Ilchester to Dorchester Roman road runs directly below these features, however, suggesting they post-date its use. They are perhaps more likely to be post medieval chalk pits. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project.

Multiple small irregular ditched pits are visible as earthworks on 1940s aerial photographs within a field on the north side of Long Ash Lane, Frome St Quintin (1, 2). The features extend over an area approximately 200m long by 150m deep and comprise multiple small irregular pits and scoops. They are recorded in the NRHE <3, 5> as possible Roman chalk pits. The line of the Ilchester to Dorchester Roman road runs directly below these features, however, suggesting they post-date its use. They are perhaps more likely to be post medieval chalk pits. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project.

The features are still faintly visible on current Google Earth imagery.

The field centred at ST 60130365 is covered by small irregular-shaped pits, now grass covered. These are generally between 5.0m and 15.0m in diameter and 1.5m to 3.0m deep. The upcast is thrown around the rim of each pit. Local tradition ascribes these diggings to the Romans but lime kilns of fairly modern origin are common in the area and these chalk pits are possibly for the manufacture of lime. According to Miss Symonds she has never heard of any Roman finds having been made at Horchester. <3>

No further information obtained during field investigation; the features remain as described. <4>

<1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 FP 1056-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17007.

<2> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 4382-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17037.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 29-SEP-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3.1> Symonds, G, 1955, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: Oral Miss G Symonds Occupier, Horchester, Holywell (Verbal communication). SDO17422.

<4> Stone, J W, Field Investigators Comments JWS, F2 JWS 28-SEP-76 (Unpublished document). SDO11902.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199121 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 26 2021 4:31PM