Monument record MDO4953 - Ditch, Tarrant Hinton

(ST 96401328-ST 96071285. Dyke in the extreme N.E. of the parish, is now totally flattened by ploughing. It extends from N.E. to S.W. for some 600 yds. and then turns abruptly and runs N.W. for 135 yds. to 95971294. The earthwork appears on air photographs as a soil-mark comprising twin ditches, with medial and possibly with flanking banks. <1>

(ST 95971294). Ditch section recorded by L. Groube. <2>

The dyke was sectioned in 1976, the distance between the ditch centre being 6.5m. The westerly ditch is 1.3m deep, the easterly 2.0m deep and both are V-shaped. Chalk rubble, perhaps indicating the existance of a bank was discovered between the ditches. <3>

Additional lengths visible on air photographs: 1) ST 96451340 to NE, triple for 290m E from 96671351, length 530m. 2) ST 96321317 to NE, length 580m. Skirts to S of long barrow ; links double and triple ditches. [Air photograph transcription plan]. <2> <4>

A linear feature, now visible only as cropmarks. and listed by RCHME as Tarrant Hinton 22. As originally described by RCHME, it comprised twin ditches with a central bank, and possibly an outer bank on each side, running roughly northeast-southwest for circa 600 yards. At the southwestern end, the northern ditch turned abruptly northwest, continuing for a further 135 yards. More recent air photograph analysis has shown that at the southwest end, the southern ditch also turns abruptly though in a southwesterly direction, though it is traceable only for about 70 metres. At the northeastern end, the twin ditches appear to converge before a single ditch follows an irregular course east-northeastwards for around 250 metres before developing into a triple-ditched feature which follows a curving course eastwards for another 300 metres or so. Meanwhile, another single-ditched linear links the westerly double ditched portion with the easterly triple ditched section, looping south and skirting round the southern end of long barrow ST 91 SE 39 in the process. Some excavation was undertaken on these features in 1976 in connection with the laying of a gas pipeline. Available detail is rather sparse, but the double ditched section appears to have been trenched in two places (at ST 96071285 and ST 96411328), revealing two V-shaped ditches. One measured 3.2 metres in width and 1.3 metres in depth. The distance between the centres of the ditches was 6.5 metres. The other ditch was apparently considerably deeper, perhaps 2 metres. Chalk rubble, perhaps indicating the former presence of a bank, was located between the ditches. At ST 95971294, 2 v-shaped ditches were again recorded, 2.1 metres and 1.9 metres wide and 1.5 and 1.2 metres deep respectively. The grid reference suggests that this feature was the northwest off-shoot at the southwest end of the double ditch. Air photos apparently confirm the presence of two ditches, although Bowen (1991) shows only one. <7>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 100 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(22) Dyke (96401328-96071285), in the extreme N.E. of the parish, is now totally flattened by ploughing. It extends from N.E. to S.W. for some 600 yds. and then turns abruptly and runs N.W. for 133 yds. to 95971294. The earthwork appears on air photographs (C.U.A.P., ANC 26, 28) as a soil-mark comprising twin ditches, with a medial and possibly with flanking banks.'

<1.1> St Joseph, J K, St Joseph ANC 26 28 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18382.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1978, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1976, 62 (Serial). SDO76.

'ST 96071285, 96411328). Bank with double ditches, sectioned by a gas pipe-line was examined by L. Groube.'

<3> Catherall, P, Barnett, M, and McClean, H, 1984, The Southern Gas Feeder: the Archaeology of a Gas Pipeline (Monograph). SDO16637.

<4> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke (Monograph). SWX800.

<4.1> National Monuments Record, NMR OAP ST 9613/2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18383.

<5> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 1 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<6> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/097 RCHME Inventory: Dorset IV (North) (Unpublished document). SDO17498.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210003 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 8 2024 12:22PM