Monument record MDO5804 - Prehistoric enclosure on Crichel Down, Long Crichel

Long Crichel 6. Rectangular enclosure. At end of linear but apparent gap between their ditches; ?entrance in S side. [Plans of comparable sites]. <2-3>

The later Prehistoric or later rectangular enclosure referred to above <1-3> is visible as earthworks and subsequently as soilmarks on aerial photographs. The site is centred at ST 9588 1007 and comprises a bank measuring between 5m and 8m wide which defines a square enclosure with a break or entrance in the southern side and flanked externally by a narrow ditch. The bank encloses an area measuring circa 32m square. The square is aligned slightly differently to the surrounding "Celtic" field system (see ST 90 NE 11 / UID: 209273) and appears to overlay some of its component banks, which suggests that the enclosure is later. <5>

A later Prehistoric or later rectangular enclosure survived as slight earthworks when visited by the RCHME in 1975 but has subsequently been ploughed level and is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs. RCHME listed the enclosure as Long Crichel 6, describing it as being roughly rectangular in plan, the sides varying between 105 feet and 140 feet in length. At the time of the RCHME survey, the enclosure survived on the ground as a low bank 12 feet across with an external ditch of similar width. No trace of an entrance was observed on the ground but the aerial photographs suggest an entrance in the southern side. The interior was described as flat and featureless, except for a small depression near the northeast side. Cropmark transcription by RCHME for the Bokerley Dyke volume appears to show an entrance midway along the enclosure's south-western side. The enclosure is located at the northeast end of a linear (now recorded as ST 91 SE 209). According to the Bokerley Dyke site inventory, there is a gap between the linear ditch and the enclosure ditch, however, the cropmark transcription in the Bokerley Dyke volume does not show this gap. Transcription of the earthworks and cropmarks as part of the Tarrant Launceston 15 contextual area suggests the enclosure overlays the surrounding "Celtic" field system (see ST 90 NE 11) and is therefore later. <6>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 38-39 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(6) Enclosure and Linear Dyke, on Crichel Down, now almost completely levelled by ploughing, are probably of prehistoric date (Plate 85). The enclosure (95901007), on a broad saddle of the Down, 340 ft. above O.D., covers about 1/3 acre and is roughly rectangular in plan with sides between 105 ft. and 140 ft. in length; it is defined by a low bank 12 ft. across, with an external ditch of similar width. There is no trace of an entrance and the interior is flat and featureless, except for a small depression near the N.E. side.

The linear dyke (95861006-95690973) prolongs the N.W. side of the enclosure south-westwards across the ridge-top for at least 400 yds. (air photographs F21 58 RAF 1090: 0136-7). The dyke has dimensions similar to those of the bank and ditch of the enclosure, with the bank on the S.E. side. It is possibly, but by no means certainly, associated with ‘Celtic’ fields (Group (80)).’

<1.1> Royal Air Force, 20-APR-1953, NMR RAF/58/1090 F21 0136-0137 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19234.

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/091 RCHME Inventory: Dorset V (East) (Unpublished document). SDO18032.

<3> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 91 (Monograph). SWX800.

<3.1> CUCAP OAPs AMO 7 and 8; ANC 69-72 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19340.

<4> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 28 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<5> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<5.1> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 2149-2150 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18433.

<5.2> 12-MAR-1966, CUCAP ANC72 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19336.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210012 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2023 10:54AM