Monument record MDO5809 - Round barrow on Crichel Down, Long Crichel

A probable Bronze Age round barrow is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs and is much reduced by ploughing. The barrow measures 14m in diameter and is defined by a ring ditch which encloses a circular mound. The barrow mound measures 11.5m in diameter and is visible as a white, probably chalk, circular macula which 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. The barrow is located on the summit of Crichel Down and is one of a pair (see MDO5808).

One of a pair of Bronze Age round barrows located on the summit of Crichel Down that were initially recorded as ST 91 SE 15 (UID: 210021). <1, 3>

The probable Bronze Age round barrow referred to above is visible as a soilmark on aerial photographs. The barrow is centred at ST 9598 1007, measures 14m in diameter, and is defined by a ring ditch which encloses a circular mound. The barrow mound measures 11.5m in diameter and is visible as a white, probably chalk, circular macula which 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. <2, 4>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 39b, Long Crichel 9 (Monograph). SDO129.

'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.) … (9) Barrow (95971007); diam. About 40 ft.'

<2> Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography, 23-JAN-1976, CUCAP BWK60-BWK61 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18350.

<3> Grinsell, L V, 1982, Dorset Barrows Supplement, 45, Long Crichel 27 (Monograph). SWX1703.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 24-APR-1988, OS/88055 187-188 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18351.

<5> Bishop, Sharon, 2009, Tarrant Launceston 15 & Environs. Aerial Photograph Survey & Analysis, Object Number: MD002384 (Unpublished document). SDO12459.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1302818 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2023 4:57PM