Monument record MDO5969 - Bokerley Down square enclosure, Pentridge

A small square enclosure on Bokerley Down, with sides measuring between 15.5 and 18.5 metres. Located immediately south of long barrow MDO5943 and southwest of bowl barrow MDO5953, its date and purpose are unknown. In 1969, Ordnance Survey field investigation described it as a slightly raised square platform. No trace of a surrounding ditch or entrance were visible on the ground, but air photographs taken some decades earlier showed the monument to be a square enclosure defined by a slight bank and outer ditch. However, no entrance is visible on this photograph. In the later 19th century, Warne had referred to the earthwork as featuring a possible entrance in the southwest.

A small square enclosure on Bokerley Down, with sides measuring between 15.5 and 18.5 metres. Located immediately south of long barrow SU 01 NW 42 and southwest of bowl barrow SU 01 NW 211, its date and purpose are unknown. In 1969, Ordnance Survey field investigation described it as a slightly raised square platform. No trace of a surrounding ditch or entrance were visible on the ground, but air photographs taken some decades earlier by Alexander Keiller showed the monument to be a square enclosure defined by a slight bank and outer ditch. However, no entrance is visible on this photograph. In the later 19th century, Warne had referred to the earthwork as featuring a possible entrance in the southwest. Grinsell listed the earthwork as a possible bowl barrow but was doubtful about this interpretation. <1-6>

NB this site was formerly described as part of SU 01 NW 42.

<1> Warne, C, 1872, Ancient Dorset, 336 (Monograph). SDO10094.

<2> Crawford, O G S and Keiller, A, 1928, Wessex from the Air, 230-2 (Monograph). SDO12591.

<3> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 123 (Monograph). SDO132.

<4> Aldsworth, F G, Various, Field Investigators Comments FGA, F1 FGA 02-MAY-1969 (Unpublished document). SWX1161.

<5> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke (Monograph). SWX800.

<6> Bowen, H C, 1991, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke: Inventory, 23, 28 (Monograph). SDO14864.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1313511 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 23 2022 11:43AM