Monument record MDO5946 - Neolithic Long barrow, Pentridge

A Neolithic long barrow, much damaged by ploughing. Located immediately west of Bokerley Dyke and a short distance north of the northeastern terminal of the Dorset Cursus (Linear 41). In 1975 RCHME were initially uncertain as to whether or not this mound was in fact a long barrow. At the time, RCHME measured the mound as being 95 feet long, 70 feet wide and 4 feet high, aligned broadly southeast-northwest, and 4 feet high. Subsequently RCHME (in Bowen 1990, 1991) confirmed identification as a long barrow with large side ditches. Side ditches are visible on aerial photographs. Bowen (1991) also identified this mound with one dug into by Cunnington and Hoare in the early 19th century, based on Hoare's published description and map of sites in the vicinity. Both Grinsell and RCHME had previously assumed that Hoare was referring to a round barrow. Hoare described the mound as being surrounded by large sarsen stones. His finds were purely Saxon, relating to an intrusive 7th century burial – which is recorded separately as MDO5947.

Long Barrow? (03941951), close to Bokerley Dyke and 300 yards north of the end of the Cursus, has been much damaged by ploughing, but earlier observations (Dorset Barrows, 81) and air photographs (NMR. SU 0319/3, 7, 8) indicate the presence of side ditches aligned southeast.-northwest. The mound is 95 feet long, 70 feet across and 4 feet high. <4>

Long barrow with large side ditches now confirmed. This is almost certainly the barrow excavated by Colt Hoare, in which he found a rich 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial, as it is described as opposite to what was, with little doubt, the Bokerley Gap. The barrow is shown clearly on the map of 'Fovant Station', as are both pairs of round barrows excavated by Colt Hoare on Blagdon Hill. If this is so, it was also 'surrounded with large sarsen stones' <7.1>. <7>

Illustration. <6>

A Neolithic long barrow. Located immediately west of Bokerley Dyke and a short distance north of the northeastern terminal of the Dorset Cursus (Linear 41). RCHME were initially uncertain as to whether or not this mound was in fact a long barrow, largely because of the extent of plough damage, though it was noted that Grinsell had observed side ditches, these also being visible on aerial photographs. At the time, RCHME measured the mound as being 95 feet by 70 feet, aligned broadly southeast-northwest, and 4 feet high. Subsequently RCHME (in Bowen 1990, 1991) confirmed identification as a long barrow with large side ditches. Bowen (1991) also identified this mound with one dug into by Cunnington and Hoare in the early 19th century, based on Hoare's published description and map of sites in the vicinity. Both Grinsell and RCHME had previously assumed that Hoare was referring to a round barrow (unnumbered by RCHME but listed as Pentridge 13d by Grinsell). Hoare described the mound as being surrounded by large sarsen stones. His finds were purely Saxon, relating to an intrusive burial MDO5947. Within the mound, he found a small hook, a buckle and a clench bolt, plus an ivory ring (from a bag or pouch). Below was an extended female inhumation, near the head of which were two further clench bolts. Grave goods included a biconical gold bead, 2 glass beads, one of them threaded on a gold wire ring, a jet bead, and a millefiori plaque suspended from a gold chain. The ornaments have been suggested to represent the remains of a rich necklace and linked pin suite, while the iron objects have been suggested to represent the surviving traces of a bed or similar structure on which the corpse was interred. [NB this barrow excavated by Hoare and Cunnington has been tentatively identified by some with one of the ring ditches just outside Pentridge (see SU 01 NW 77 and associated records). However, Hoare's account of the barrow's location, vague though it is, makes this long barrow a far more plausible candidate than any of the Pentridge round barrows]. <1, 3-9>

Gill, M, 2024, Magnetometry Survey at Five Long barrows near the Dorset Cursus (Unpublished document). SDO21224.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 81, 123 (Monograph). SDO132.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SU 03941951) Tumulus [NR]

<3> Meaney, A L, 1964, A Gazetteer of Early Anglo-Saxon burial sites, 82 (Bibliographic reference). SWX4310.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 57 (Monograph). SDO129.

‘Four certain long barrows and one probable occur in the parish; they all appear to be associated with the Dorset Cursus (GUSSAGE ST. MICHAEL (9)). Barrow (19) is incorporated into the bank of the Cursus; the others are sited near and are aligned upon its N.E. end on Bokerley Down (Plate 56). All but (19), which has been planted with conifers, have been damaged by repeated ploughing around them. … (23) Long barrow ? (03941951, close to Bokerley Dyke and 300 yds. N. of the end of the Cursus, has been much damaged by ploughing, but earlier observations (Dorset Barrows, 81) and air photographs (N.M.R., SU 0319/3, 7, 8) indicate the presence of side ditches aligned S.E.-N.W. The mound is 95 ft. long, 70 ft. across and 4 ft. high.’

<5> Speake, George, 1989, A Saxon bed burial on Swallowcliffe Down, 107, No 10 (Monograph). SDO19553.

<6> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke (Monograph). SWX800.

<7> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 5 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<7.1> Colt Hoare, Sir Richard, 1975, The ancient history of Wiltshire, 235 (Monograph). SDO18077.

<8> Barrett, J, Bradley, R and Green, M, 1991, Landscape, Monuments and Society: the prehistory of Cranborne Chase, 25-58 (Monograph). SDO16633.

<9> Geake, Helen, 1997, The Use of Grave-Goods in Conversion-Period England, c.600-c.850, 151 (Monograph). SWX4066.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 1094123 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: 5, 39, LINEAR 41, LINEAR 74 and LINEAR 498 (Roman road 4c, SU 0319) (1969). Scope & Content: Includes profiles Antiquity Model: Surveyed.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213530 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 9 2025 12:14PM