Monument record MDO4529 - Cross dyke on Bell Hill, Okeford Fitzpaine

A cross dyke running across a spur. In 1970 this monument was reported as being around 70 yards long and comprising a bank with a ditch on its uphill side; the bank around 24 feet wide and 3 feet high, and the ditch 18 feet wide and 2 feet deep. The feature is visible as an earthwork on 1940s aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery and was digitally plotted during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project.

(ST 802090) Cross-dyke (NR). (1)
Cross-dyke (80240909-80310911), 70 yds. in length, runs W.S.W.- E.N.E. across the spine of a spur sloping N.N.W. It lies, with ditch uphill, at over 700 ft. above O.D. but well down the slope of the spur, which steepens about 50 yds. behind it. In the centre, the bank is 24 ft. wide and 3 ft. high, the ditch is 18 ft. wide and 2 ft. deep. Westwards the dyke curves slightly S.W. and runs out well short of the shoulder of the spur. To the E., the end is similarly sited and just cut by the ditch of a modern hedge. Possibly 'Celtic' fields existed to the N. There is no evidence of an original break, though it is cut by a track and a path towards the centre. <2>

A later prehistoric cross dyke 70 metres long with an 8 metre wide and 1 metre high bank on Bell Hill. Occupies a prominent position below the crest of the hill. One of four similar sites separately scheduled situated on the edge of the plateau and possibly associated with the contemporary settlement at Ringmoor 850 metres to the south east. Scheduled.<3>

The cross dyke is visible as an earthwork on 1940s aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery (RAF 1947; RAF 1947; EA 2018). The feature is most distinct at its western end, running from east to west for around 70m, curving slightly southwest at its western end. As visible it appears to comprise a 6m wide ditch flanked by 3m to 4m wide banks. At its eastern end it is truncated by a later hedge boundary but can be seen on 1940s RAF photos (RAF 1947; RAF 1947) continuing eastwards as a very faint earthwork for approximately 53m - this section is not visible on lidar imagery, however. The feature was digitally plotted during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project.

Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 RS 4025 (Aerial Photograph). SDO21601.

Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 RS 4169 (Aerial Photograph). SDO21600.

Environment Agency, xx-xxx-2018, Environment Agency National Lidar Programme DTM 1M (Aerial Photograph). SDO21483.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey map 1:10,560, 1968 (Map). SDO18658.

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 207 (Monograph). SDO136.

'(40) Cross-dyke (80240909 - 80310911), 70 yds. In length, runs W.S.W.-E.N.E. across the spine of a spur sloping N.N.W. It lies, with its ditch uphill, at over 700 ft. above O.D. but well down the slope of the spur, which steepens about 50 yds. Behind it. In the centre, the bank is 24 ft. wide and 3 ft. high, the ditch is 18 ft. wide and 2 ft. deep. Westwards the dyke curves slightly S.W. and runs out well short of the shoulderof the spur. To the E., the end is similarly sited and just cut by the ditch of a modern hedge. Possibly 'Celtic' fields existed to the N. There is no evidence of an original break, though it is cut by a track and a path towards the centre.'

<3> DCMS, 2000, Scheduled Monument Notification EH Scheduling amendment, 19-SEP-2000 (Scheduling record). SDO17758.

<4> Wymer, J, 1993, The Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project: the Upper Thames Valley, the Kennet Valley and the Solent drainage system, 118 (Monograph). SWX4473.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205547 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 18 2025 2:35PM