Monument record MDO7043 - Bowl barrow, one of the 'Three Barrows' on Middlebere Heath, Arne

A bowl barrow reported as being around six feet high in 1970. The mutilated remains of the barrow are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs.

The mutilated remains of the barrow are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs (3-4). The site was digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 435 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘The Three Barrows (SY 98 SW) lie in an E.-W. line within 100 ft. ring contour on S.W. of Middlebere Heath. All are badly damaged … (43) Bowl (?) (93918441) immediately E. of (42). Ht. about 6 ft.’

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 86 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Royal Air Force, 10-FEB-1945, RAF 106G/LA/128 7058-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13468.

<4> National Monuments Record, 18-NOV-2005, NMR SY 9384/5-9 (NMR 24141/15-19) (Aerial Photograph). SDO13515.

<5> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 85 (Index). SDO147.

‘Situated on heathland under a thick growth of gorse. OS SY98SW44. 1/4/C.’

<6> Papworth, M, 1992, Middlebere, Corfe Castle Estate, Dorset. Wessex Region (Unpublished document). SWX1394.

The central mound of three Bronze Age round barrows called the ‘Three Barrows’ on Woodward’s map (1775). The Site measures 20m north-south and 7m east-west and 1.5m high with no visible ditch. Visited 17/7/1992.

Record last edited

Jan 20 2025 3:40PM