Monument record MDO6236 - Iron Age occupation, West Parley

During re-cutting of a pond in 1929 several pits were observed and investigated. Iron Age pottery was recovered from the pits and they were interpreted as a settlement, though no direct evidence of houses was noted.

A section of pit dwelling and fragments of pottery were found in 1929 by Mr. T. Dayrell-Reed of Wood Town Farm, West Parley, while cleaning out a pond. The pottery was of Hallstatt type of the 6th-5th century BC; animal bones and flints were also found. The pit was a double one having a wall or partition between the two "rooms". Traces of three other pits were seen in the bed of the pond. <2-3>

Correct siting SZ 09149773. The finds are all in Dorset County Museum. The pond still exists. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1971 (Map). SWX1540.

(SZ 09169774) Iron Age Pottery found AD 1929 (NAT)

<2> Drew, C D, 1929, Early Iron Age Site at West Parley; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 232-236 (Article in serial). SDO12554.

In September, 1929, Mr. T. Dayrell-Reed, of Woodtown Farm, West Parley, taking advantage of the dry season, was having a pond, on the east side of the lane leading to his farm, cleaned out. He noticed, in the west bank of the pond, a dark band of soil, of quite a different appearance form the yellow gravel of the normal sub-soil.

Examination disclosed a fragment of pottery in this dark band, and, on the rough bank being dressed down to a perpendicular fact, its meaning was clear – It was a section of a pit dwelling.

Before going further, it is necessary to describe the neighbourhood.

The site is about 40 feet above sea level and 12 feet above the River Stour, the nearest point of which is half a mile away. The intervening country is quite flat, until, near the river, there is a well marked “River Terrace”, where the level drops abruptly some 10 feet to the meadows.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1931, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1930, 19 (Serial). SDO34.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 25-NOV-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4.1> Dayrell Reed, T, Oral: T Dayrell-Reed, Wood Town Farm, West Parley, 25.11.55 (Verbal communication). SDO17297.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 76 (Monograph). SDO129.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457836 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 28 2023 2:45PM