Monument record MDO7162 - Romano-British settlement, Bere Regis

Earthworks described as settlement by Hutchins are now within an area which has been quarried. It is not now clear if this was a mistaken identification of quarry features, or if a settlement has been quarried away.

An "ancient British" settlement situated close to the Roman road (RR 4e), over 1/2 mile west of Winterborne Kingston village and beyond the Romano-British settlement at Bagwood (see SY 89 NE 5). "It possesses externally a single fosse and agger with a low advancedbreastwork in front .... Within its area are a series of circular depressions and inequalities irregularly formed, which seem to be the remains of huts and enclosures". <1>

The features mentioned in Hutchins have been destroyed by quarrying, but a probable Iron Age/Romano-British terraced trackway extending from SY 84379677 to SY 84569682 may have served the possible settlement. See OS 25" survey. <3>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 147 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(Centred SY 845968) British Settlement (NR)

<3> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 17-NOV-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 633 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘GROUP (32) BERE DOWN (SY 89 NW; 845969), Bere Regis. Remains of ‘Celtic’ fields, with lynchets up to 12 ft. high, occur over 20 acres between 200 ft. and 300 ft. above O.D., N. and S. of a small dry combe where the Roman road from Badbury Rings to Dorchester probably cut across them. They formerly extended in all directions and almost certainly joined Group (31). A lynchet lies against round barrow Bere Regis (112). A ‘settlement’ marked on some maps immediately S. of the Roman road at 84559684 is a quarry area. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1934: 4122).’

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455996 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 21 2023 4:27PM