Monument record MDO4567 - Enclosure, Pimperne

Concentric subcircular enclosure visible as soil marks on aerial photographs. It is an irregular oval, formerly enclosed by a bank and ditch now levelled by ploughing, and probably of Iron Age date. It encloses an area of around 10 acres, and has an inturned entrance on the south west side. Within it, and concentric to it, lay a roughly oval enclosure of about 5 acres similarly defined and utilising the same entrance. The space between the two enclosures was divided into compartments by three short lengths of bank and ditch. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water

Enclosure (916105), probably Iron Age, lies in the extreme E. of the parish on a gentle S.W. slope, near the top of a ridge, about 375 ft. above O.D. It has been levelled by ploughing, but comprises a heart-shaped area of some 10 acres, formerly defined by a bank and ditch, with an inturned entrance on the S.W. side. Within, and concentric with it, lay a roughly oval enclosure of about 5 acres similarly defined and utilising the same entrance. The space between the two enclosures was divided into compartments by three short lengths of bank and ditch. The enclosure appears to have been integrated with 'Celtic' fields and possibly with a Linear Dyke immediately on the S. (ST 91 SW 15). <2, 3>

Additional references. New local plan produced. Air photograph transcription plan and consideration of comparable enclosures. <4, 5>

National Record of the Historic Environment, 210185 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<1> 9110/47/04, Object Number: 9110/47/04. Oblique aerial photograph (Aerial Photograph). SDO18508.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 55 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(18) ENCLOSURE (916105), probably Iron Age, lies in the extreme E. of the parish on a gentle S.W. slope, near the top of a ridge, about 375 ft. above O.D. It has been levvelled by ploughing, but comprises a heart-shped area of some 10 acrs, formerly defined by a bank and ditch, with an inturned entrance on the S.W. side (Plate 54). Within, and concentric with it, lay a roughly oval enclosureof about 5 acres similarly defined and utilising the same entrance. The space between the two enclosures was divided into compartments by three short lengths of bank and ditch (C.U.A.P., WX 15-18). The enclosure appears to have been integrated with 'Celtic' fields (see Group (73)) and possibly with a Linear Dyke immediately on the S. (Tarrant Hinton (18)).'

<3> Boyden, J R, 03-DEC-72, JRB F63 3.12.72, APs (J R Boyden F63 3.12.72) (Aerial Photograph). SDO18507.

<4> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, p94 & 96, Pimperne 18 (Monograph). SWX800.

<5> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, p25, Pimperne 18 (Monograph). SDO14864.

Record last edited

Jul 22 2024 12:43PM