Monument record MDO630 - Iron Age/Romano-British settlement, Bedmill Copse, Castleton

Roman occupation evidence recovered from the site during excavation of trial holes includes pottery from the later Iron Age to late Roman period. Coins from the site span the period from around AD 222 to 383.

Much evidence of a Romano-British settlement occurs at ST 61001470, on both sides of the railway where it cuts through Bedmill Copse. Trial holes have revealed Iron Age C pottery, traces of walls, wattle and daub, native Romano-British pottery and Samian. Coins range from 222 to 383 AD. Ploughing has produced several shallow burials at ST 60501463, non sufficiently intact to give any dating evidence although one skeleton appeared to have an iron spiral toe ring. A few flint scrapers and arrow-heads have been found to the south of the site. <1>

Bedmill Copse and surrounding fields are on level, low-lying formerly marshy ground, which has now been drained. Nothing of interest was noted during a perambulation of the area and no finds were made from the black earth. Mr Loxton of Wyke farm, and tenant farmers at Silverlake farm, who jointly farm the land, knew nothing of the discoveries noted by Bean, and had made no finds themselves. <2>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1951, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1950, 76-77 (Serial). SDO50.

‘Bedmill Copse. ST(31)/61001470; 1974/4141-3 and 2204-5. On the east side and north and south of the railway, where it cuts through Bedmill Copse, there is again much evidence of Romano-British settlement. Trial holes again have produced Iron Age C pottery, traces of walls, wattle and daub, native Romano-British pottery and Samian, viz. Flavian forms 27, 29, 18, 18/31, 36, 37; Vespasian 29; Domitian 18/31; Trajan 30, 37, Antonine 31, 37. The coin range covers the period 222 to 383. This site also produced several shallow burials ST(31)/60501463, when the field was ploughed up during the war. Unfortunately, none was sufficiently intact to give any dating evidence, although one skeleton appeared to have an iron spiral toe ring. New Forest pottery, folded beaker and flanged bowls of form 38, as well as basin shaped vessels, jugs, large storage pots, etc., are also present. In the peaty deposits to the south of the site, a few flint scrapers and arrow heads and a segmental bead were exposed by the plough [Footnote: I have noticed that the recently revived practice of spreading crushed chalk on fields may leave flint chips which resemble ancient work, except in patination].’

<2> Bean, C E, Annotated record map Corr 6", 1954 (Map). SDO16337.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199564 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 15 2025 12:53PM