Monument record MDO633 - Human remains and pottery of unknown date found near Almshouse Wood, Castleton

Workmen quarrying stone in a field above the Almshouse Copse, which lies under Honeycombe Wood, on the north side of the road between Thornford and Sherborne, came across some human remains that were obviously very old, but of unknown date. Fragments of very old pottery, of the character of the barrow urns, were also found.

Recently in quarrying stone in a field above the Almshouse Copse, which lies under Honeycombe Wood on the north side of the road between Thornford and Sherborne, the workmen came across some human remains obviously of considerable antiquity. The first skeleton was the most perfect. It was at a depth of about three feet, lying east and west, and had slabs of the local rock lying over it. The other remains were in a rough trench running north and south at right angles to the first body. These remains were very much decayed, and they appear to have been thrown into the trench indiscriminately. Altogether three or four bodies could be accounted for. The remains as indicated by the teeth were those in the prime of life. The under jaws were very heavy with very square chins. Although the quarrymen were instructed to watch carefully for any pottery, flints, or weapons, none were found.

In uncovering another section of stone, a hole, about two feet deep, was found full of black humus with remains of very old pottery of the character of the barrow urns, but the vessel had almost entirely perished, and no charred bones or flints were observed with it. It was probably a cremated interment, but in my opinion of much greater age than the skeletons.

From the fact that one skeleton was interred east and west with more care than the others, it would seem to indicate that it was a Christian burial; and probably at this point, which is one of considerable strategic advantage, commanding the valley of the Yeo, some skirmish took place during the Civil Wars, which resulted in the death of an officer and three or four of his men, who were stripped, and the officer buried by himself, whilst his men were thrown into a trench beside him. Some of the quarrymen who had done a lot of planting in Honeycombe Wood near by, about three years before, when digging the holes for the trees, stated that they came across a good many flat horseshoes with small centres, and also one broken sword, but unfortunately these were not reported at the time. Careful search has since been made for some of these remains, especially for the sword, in the hope of obtaining some indication of the date, but unfortunately without success. Evidently a considerable action took place round this centre at some distant period. <1>

This site falls on arable ground under crops. No signs of habitation were seen on the ground. <3>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1908, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1908, xxxii-xxxiii (Serial). SDO19.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, 1927 (Map). SDO10373.

(ST 62631472) Human remains found AD 1903 (NAT)

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 06-JUL-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199565 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 5 2024 11:13AM