Monument record MDO44908 - Post medieval dewpond, Blandford Camp, Tarrant Monkton

A small square banked enclosure on the northeast side of Blandford Camp is visible as an earthwork on 1940s aerial photographs. The feature is recorded as a possible post medieval dewpond (NRHE Hob UID 1478855). The feature was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A probable Post Medieval dewpond is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1947 but was subsequently levelled by ploughing. The site was centred at ST 9311 0867 and comprised a rectangular embanked enclosure which measured 12m long by 10m wide, was orientated east / west, and probably contained a clay-lined pond.

The dewpond is similar to those found in other chalkland areas (see ST 91 SE 239 / UID: 1480742) and was probably constructed in the 19th century to serve livestock on the open common of Race and Monkton Downs before the Blandford military camp was constructed. The site had been levelled by ploughing on aerial photographs taken in 1982. <1>

A small 10m square banked enclosure on the northeast side of Blandford Camp is visible as an earthwork on 1940s aerial photographs <2>. The enclosure has entracnes on its north and south sides. The feature is recorded as a possible post medieval dewpond. It was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<1.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 4006-4007 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19286.

<1.2> 13-SEP-1982, NMR OS/82203 187-188 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19287.

<2> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 RS 4008 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18888.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1478855 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2023 3:53PM