Monument record MDO4363 - Bowl barrow, Warren Hill, Milborne St Andrew and Tolpuddle

It is about 45 feet in diameter by 5 feet high, and has been dug into in the past. (Probably one of three barrows on Warren Hill opened in 1881). <1> <3>

Barrow generally as described by R.C.H.M <3>; southern half almost ploughed out; northern half thickly over-grown. No visible ditch. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <4>

Three round barrows on Warren Hill (SY 7995) (probably SY 79 NE31, 32 & 50) were opened by J C Mansel-Pleydell in 1881. The first barrow, which was on the summit of the hill, contained only ashes and a piece of pottery. The second contained three cremations, possibly primary, in cists. The third (almost certainly SY 79 NE50) was situated in a hedge running east to west on the south side of the hill, near the Tolpuddle boundary hedge. It contained a thick layer of black ashes at the centre and, on its north side, the remains of a coarse urn. <1-2>

It is more likely that Mansel-Playdell's first barrow is SY 79NE50 rather than his third. The Tolpuddle boundary hedge, in which the latter is situated, is on top of and not on the south side of the hill, so it is quite possible that his barrow was in the hedge, to the south of the boundary hedge. His first barrow cannot be either SY 79 NE 31 or SY 79 NE 32, because neither of these are on the summit. <4>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1884, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, 30-32 (No. 3) (Serial). SDO4.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 79519591) Tumulus (NR)

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 181 (Monograph). SDO136.

'(21) Bowl (79509591), 400 yds. S.E. of (20), on top of Warren Hill at 380 ft. above O.D., lies within the hedgerow forming the parish boundary with Tolpuddle and has been dug into in the past. Diam. about 45 ft., ht. 5 ft.'

<4> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 04-OCT-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454612 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454618 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 10 2024 1:35PM