Monument record MDO7160 - Mound on Lower Hyde Heath, Bere Regis

These two mounds appear to be natural, indefinite prominences on a low northwest-southeast ridge. From a distance they might be mistaken for bowl barrows but closer inspection reveals that they merge into one another into the contours of the ridge. There are no indications of ditches or any excavation. Small natural hillocks are not uncommon to the area which is formed from gravel beds. <2>

An excavation was attempted on the larger of the two mounds by Major C E Radclyffe about 1890. A trench about 2½ to 3 ft (wide?) was driven through at ground level to the centre, but when nothing was found the workmen employed, filled in the trench. At the time it did not occur to him that the interment, if any, would probably be below ground level. <3>

(SY 883908) Perhaps two barrows, each with hollow centres, on Lower Hyde Heath, which may both be natural.
`A' SY 88339089 35 x 25 paces in diameter and 4ft high. `B' SY 88409087 28 paces diameter and 4ft high. <4>

The `tumuli' (Grinsell's Nos 13 and 14) on Lower Hyde Heath are probably natural. The mounds are as described by Authority <1>. See ground photograph. <5>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(`A' SY 88349089; `B' SY 88409085) Tumuli (NR)

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 25-JUL-52 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 06-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3.1> Radclyffe, Major C E, Oral: Letter from Major C E Radclyffe, Forss House, Thurso, Scotland (Verbal communication). SDO19623.

<4> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows (Monograph). SDO132.

<5> 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 parish contains fifty barrows, on heathland to the S. and on downland, now largely arable, to the N. The heathland barrows are usually widely spaced; those on the downland are more numerous and often in clusters or groups. … 'Barrow Hill' immediately N. of the village is natural, as are probably the 'tumuli' (LVG 13 and 14) on Lower Hyde Heath.'

<6> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F3 NJA 30-MAR-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<7> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456142 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 8 2023 4:05PM