Monument record MDO4821 - Round barrow, Stourpaine

One of three probable Bronze Age round barrows in the field immediately east of Down End Farm, Stourpaine. In 1955 this monument was recorded as approximately 18 metres in diameter, with a mound 0.4 metre high, on which a water tower had been erected. By 1986 both the water tower and the mound had gone. An oval mound with surrounding ditch is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs taken in 1947; it is considered to be the site of the barrow and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM Project. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water

Three mounds in the pasture field immediately east of Down End Farm seem to be barrows, and are confirmed by an air photograph.

'A' - ST 87460951. A bowl barrow, 18.0m. diameter and 0.4m. high with no visible ditch. A water tower has been erected upon this mound.

A mound with surrounding ditch is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs taken in 1947[6]; it is considered to be the site of the barrow and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM Project. The barrow is oval, 22m by 15m in size, and may be of Bronze Age or earlier date.

<1> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, 31-DEC-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

‘Three mounds in the pasture field immediately east of Down End Farm seem to be barrows, and are confirmed by an air photograph (a). 'A' - ST 87460951. A bowl barrow, 18.0m. diameter and 0.4m. High with no visible ditch. A water tower has been erected upon this mound.‘

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1982, Dorset Barrows Supplement, 50 (Monograph). SWX1703.

'Down End Farm. 20 paces diameter, 1 ft high. OS Arch. 31 Dec 1955: surmounted by water tower.'

<3> Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1986, Dorset Barrow Survey, DBS (Index). SDO134.

‘No visible trace in a field that is regularly ploughed. The water tower mentioned by Quinnell was not seen, perhaps the mound was removed with the tower. The field was in stubble which had been harrowed and was waterlogged when visited.’

<4> Mudd, A, 1990, Stourpaine Landfill Site, Stourpaine, Dorset: Archaeological Assessment (Unpublished document). SDO14188.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205408 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 RS 4015 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18889.

Record last edited

Nov 24 2022 5:09PM