Monument record MDO6373 - Bowl barrow, Oakley Down Group, Wimborne St Giles

Bowl barrow forming part of the Oakley Down Group. In 1975 the RCHME reported that the monument, which has a diameter of some 45 feet, was levelled by ploughing, but is visible on air-photographs.

A plough-levelled bowl barrow, part of the general group of barrows on Oakley Down (SU 01 NW 19). It was described by RCHME as a levelled mound formerly circa 45 feet in diameter. This also appears to be the most plausible candidate for a barrow excavated in the early 19th century by Cunnington and Hoare, and numbered 27 on Hoare's plan. Although not explicitly stated in his text, barrow 27 would appear to be the one in which they found "some burned bones, and some large headed nails within a very irregular cist". Hoare's barrow 27 is listed by Grinsell as Wimborne St Giles 26, and sited by him to SU 02081768. However, RCHME investigation strongly suggested that the mound at this location (SU 01 NW 18) is in fact the junction of two banks in the "Celtic" field system which covers the area (SU 01 NW 71) and not, as Grinsell felt, a barrow.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 145 (Monograph). SDO132.

<2> Colt Hoare, Sir Richard, 1975, The ancient history of Wiltshire, 243, Plan opp. p 236 (Monograph). SDO18077.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 102, 104 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(123) Bowl (02001763) has been levelled by ploughing, but is visible on air photographs (N.M.R., SU 0117/10/106. C.U.A.P., RC8 V223). Diam. About 45 ft.' (1)

<4> Grinsell, L V, 1982, Dorset Barrows Supplement, 54, 55 (Monograph). SWX1703.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1312605 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 30 2022 4:23PM