Monument record MDO43355 - Post medieval chalk pits, Plush Hill, Piddletrenthide

A wide scatter of hollows are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery on Plush Hill, Piddletrenthide. They are considered likely to be post medieval extraction pits (possibly for chalk) and were digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM Project. Many of the features are incorrectly marked as 'Pit Dwellingf' on the OS 1st edition map.

(Centred ST 718018) Numerous roughly circular sinkings, called 'pit-dwellings' on some old maps, are chalk-pits. <2>

There are numerous shallow hollows visible as soil marks on OS air photographs <3.1-3.2>, varying between 9.0m and 20.0m, scattered throughout this area of arable farmland. They appear to be old chalk-pits, as stated by the RCHM <2>. <3>

A wide scatter of hollows are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery on Plush Hill, Piddletrenthide. (Environment Agency 2021 (5)). They are considered likely to be post medieval extraction pits (possibly for chalk) and were digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM Project. Many of the features are incorrectly marked as 'Pit Dwellingf' on the OS 1st edition map.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1901 (Map). SWX1197.

Area ST 718018 Pit Dwellings

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 330 (Monograph). SDO136.

<3> Barrett, G, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments GB, F1 GB 20-OCT-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<3.1> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/044 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17539.

<3.2> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/045 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17534.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 202030 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Nov 19 2025 1:17PM