Monument record MDO7076 - Prehistoric or historic trackways or drainage ditches, Middlebere Farm, Arne

A group of linear ditches are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs south-east of Middlebere Farm. They are considered likely to be the remains of trackways or drainage ditches of probable historic origin. A possible Neolithic hengiform monument lies within these features (MDO28974), so that an earlier, prehistoric origin for these features cannot be ruled out.

Linear earthworks visible on AP at Middlebere farm (owned by National Trust), perhaps field boundaries or ditches for drainage. Occasionally ploughed field in ley pasture. See DCC//1972//2044 253107. (1)

A group of linear ditches are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs south-east of Middlebere Farm (2-5). They are considered likely to be the remains of trackways or drainage ditches of probable historic origin. A possible Neolithic hengiform monument lies within these features (MDO28974), so that an earlier, prehistoric origin for these features cannot be ruled out either. They were digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset). Some of these features are still visible as cropmarks on the most recent comprehensive imagery available to the project (6).

<1> DCC SMR, to 2003, Former DCC SMR Card Index (Index). SWX8285.

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 F36 1019-20 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12755.

<3> Royal Air Force, 09-MAY-1952, RAF/540/723 F10 5060 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12768.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 07-MAR-1971, OS/71005 017-18 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12770.

<5> Royal Air Force, 20-OCT-1971, RAF/39/3812 0085-86 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12769.

<6> Google Earth, 2013, Google Earth 2013 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12686.

<7> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 368 (Index). SDO147.

‘MIDDLEBERE FARM: Linear earthworks visible on AP. Perhaps field boundaries or ditches for drainage. Occasionally ploughed field in ley pasture. See DCC //1972//2044 253107. 7/7/D.’

<8> Papworth, M, 1992, Middlebere, Corfe Castle Estate, Dorset. Wessex Region, 19 (Unpublished document). SWX1394.

A group of parallel features visible as soil marks on aerial photograph Dorset County Council 1972/2044/253107 are aligned and contained within a modern field boundary. They are probably modern drainage ditches.

Record last edited

Oct 4 2021 4:25PM