Monument record MDO4575 - Round barrow, one of the Chestnut Farm Group, Pimperne

Bronze Age round barrow. In 1972 this monument was reported as being approximately 50 feet in diameter. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water. The feature is visible as a sub-circular ring ditch cropmark on an undated aerial photograph and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

The Chestnut Farm Group of at least nine barrows, all totally flattened by cultivation, but visible as soil-mark ring-ditches on air photographs.

There are possibly traces of other barrows in the group. A linear ditch, seen on the photograph, which makes an angular detour around barrow (E) and cuts into barrow (F), appears to be of comparatively recent origin. References and dimensions are approximate. … (G) Barrow 90330924 diam. About 50 ft. <2>

All barrows and barrow cemeteries within Cranbourne Chase are to be assessed for scheduling. The barrows of this cemetery had all been levelled by cultivation by 1969 and they continued to be ploughed subsequently. Most of the group is still in arable. The southern barrow now lies in a pasture field and is grass covered, while one or two of the others lie on the edge of arable and pasture. An examination of recent aerial photographs held by Dorset County Council, including those taken in 1997, was inconclusive. An extensive trawl of all recent aerial photographs combined with geophysical survey and/or archaeological evaluation may indicate the extent of surviving deposits. However, it is suggested that this barrow group should not be scheduled at this time. <3>

The feature is visible as a sub-circular ring ditch cropmark on an undated aerial photograph [5]. The feature is approximately 17.5m in diameter and the ditch itself approximately 1.5m wide, although the feature is rather indistinct and appears 'spread', probably the result of plough action. A possible pit, of uncertain date (see MDO44533), appears to have been cut against its northwest side. The feature was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 125 (Monograph). SDO132.

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

'Remains of at least seventeen barrows are found in the parish, nearly all of them levelled by ploughing. There is no record that any of them have been excavated … The Chestnut Farm Group comprises at least nine barrows, all totally flattened by cultivation, but visible as soil-mark ring-ditches on air photographs (Allen 931, 933, Ashmolean), (Plate 55); they lie at about 225 ft. above O.D. on the N.E. slope of a spur immediately W. of the village. There are possibly traces of other barrows in the group. A linear ditch, seen on the photograph, which makes an angular detour around barrow (24) and cuts into barrow (25), appears to be of comparatively recent origin. References and dimensions are approximate… (26) Barrow (90330924); diam. About 50 ft.'

<2.1> Allen, Major G, Allen 931 933 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18299.

<3> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, Sue Lobb, November 2002 (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209320 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> xx-xxx-xxxx, ACA 7093/931 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18622.

Record last edited

Oct 18 2022 10:15AM