Monument record MDO47782 - Early medieval boundary, Piddlehinton

Possible documentary references in a 9th century early medieval charter to boundaries, Castel(s), which may indicate stone walled enclosures or ruined roman building rather than a castle, and perhaps a tenuous reference to a holy place on stream.

According to Grundy a survey and charter dated 869AD defined part of the now parish boundary of Cheselbourne. Reference was made to the Saxon bounds passing south of a barrow. (Ceatwanberge) which was identified with the tumulus (at SY 74019850) and the present parish boundary passing about 80 yards south of it. After this description, the charter mentions the word 'hlinc' or 'ihlinche' which was recognised as lynch' - a term probably applying to cultivation terraces (i.e.; lynchets) rather than natural terracing. The continuing passage of the charter was interpreted as "from the lynch to a 'Castel at Swindune' going uphill", te 'castel' or variously 'castele' and 'ceastel' in this case, probably applied to a small walled enclosure perhaps a ? Roman villa, although Grundy thought that the erroneous spelling of 'Cistel' meaning cist, might also apply. 'Swindune' (Swine Down) was located as "almost certainly the hill on which Doles Hill Plantation stands (SY 737983) at the south end of Hogleaze. The 'ceastel' was either on the hill or in the valley on its east side. (Dole's Hill Plantation is in Piddlehinton parish). From this position the Saxon boundary cntinued to a place called Burnstowe', interpreted as a holy or sanctified place of the bourne', although Grundy stated that during the later Saxon period there developed a tendency to use stow' in the generic sense of "place" without any implication of sanctity. Another 'castel' which appeared in the charter beyond 'Burnstowe' …"must have been where the west boundary is passing over Whitcombe Hill" (at SY 730998). <1>

Saxon Charter B525K300,5 indicates the recognition of a Castel' (walled structure?) on Dole's Hill near enclosure (at SY 737984 see SY 79 NW 41) and a 'burnstow' possibly signifying a sacred place by the stream, east of the enclosure (at SY 737989 see SY 79 NW 40). <2>

<1> Grundy, G B, 1935, Saxon Charters of Dorset; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society 57 (Article in serial). SDO18673.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 331-332 (Monograph). SDO149.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454791 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 6 2024 7:52PM