Monument record MDO5808 - Round barrow on Crichel Down, Long Crichel

A round barrow recorded as being around 40 feet in diameter, and much reduced by ploughing, though visible as a ring-ditch on aerial photographs.

Two barrows on the summit of Crichel Down have been destroyed by ploughing, but are visible as ring-ditches on air photographs.
(A) Barrow (95951007); diam. about 40ft. [Note: ie MDO5808]
(B) Barrow (95971007); diam. about 40ft. [Note: ie MDO5809] <1, 2, 4>

The probable Bronze Age round barrow referred to above <1, 2, 4> is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs. The barrow is centred at ST 9596 1007 and is defined by a ring ditch which encloses a circular mound. The barrow measures 14m in diameter and is visible as a white, probably chalk, circular macula which measures 12m in diameter and is surrounded by the darker circle of a ring ditch. There is no apparent internal feature such as a funerary deposit visible. The size and shape of the soilmark suggest that it could be the plough levelled remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, several of which are known in this area. <3, 5>

The adjacent ring ditch previously described here has now been recorded separately, as ST 91 SE 162 [Note: ie MDO5809].

'Some twenty-four barrows are detectable. Nearly all of them are in the N.W. of the parish and form part of a concentration extending from Crichel Down to Tarrant Launceston Down (Dorset IV, 107). Most of the mounds have been damaged or levelled by ploughing. Ten have been examined by excavation.

Two barrows on the summit of Crichel Down have been destroyed by ploughing, but are visible as ring-ditches on air photographs (Plate 85). (C.U.A.P., AMO 6, 7, ANC 72.) (8) Barrow (95951007); diam. about 40 ft.' <2>

<1> St Joseph, J K, St Joseph AMO 6-7 ANC 72, APs (St Joseph AMO 6-7 ANC 72) (Aerial Photograph). SDO18349.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), p39 (Monograph). SDO129.

<3> Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography, 23-JAN-1976, CUCAP BWK60-BWK61, CUCAP BWK60-BWK61 23-JAN-1976 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18350.

<4> Grinsell, L V, 1982, Dorset Barrows Supplement, p45 (Monograph). SWX1703.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 24-APR-1988, OS/88055 187-188, NMR OS/88055 187-188 24-APR-1988 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18351.

<6> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis, Object Number MD002384 (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210021 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 26 2023 8:10AM