Monument record MDO7383 - Bowl barrow, one of the Coombe Beacon Group, Coombe Keynes

(Centred SY 860844) Tumuli (NR) (six shown) (1)

A group of heather-covered round barrows on Coombe Beacon:

'A' SY 86148450. Bell barrow, 22.0m. diameter and 2.0m. high with berm approx 2.0m. wide. The mound is flattened and mutilated by rabbits and there is a surrounding ditch 2.3m. wide and 0.4m. deep.

'B' SY 86158445. Bell barrow, 22.0m. diameter and 1.8m. high with a berm averaging 2.0m. wide. The surrounding ditch is 2.0m. wide and 0.3m. deep. The top of the mound has been mutilated by rabbits.

'C' SY 85998440. Bowl barrow, 26.0m. diameter and 1.7m. high on the south and 1.2m. high on the north. There is no evidence of a berm or ditch, and the mound is flat topped and spread.

'D' SY 86008435. Bowl barrow, 15.0m. diameter and 1.2m high with no trace of berm or ditch, slightly mutilated at the sides.

'E' SY 85968435. Bowl barrow, 15.0m. diameter and 1.1m high with no trace of berm or ditch mutilated by rabbits.

'F' SY 86068449. Bowl barrow, 18.0m. diameter and 0.25m high, much spread, but with no trace of berm or ditch. (2)

Coombe Beacon Group of six round barrows, including two probable bells: (3)

'A'-(17)-SY 86158450. Bell (?) barrow, 64ft diameter including eroded berm, and 5 1/2ft high with ditch 10 ft wide. Top disturbed.

'B'-(16)-SY 86168446. Bell (?) barrow, about 64ft diameter and about 7ft high, with eroded berm and irregular ditch. Top disturbed.

'C'-(15) SY 86008440. Bowl barrow, 62ft diameter and 3ft high.

'D'-(14)-SY 86018436. Bowl barrow, about 43ft diameter and about 2 1/2ft high, but irregular.

'E'-(13)-SY 85978435. Bowl barrow, 43ft diameter and 3ft high with irregular surface.

The bowl barrow, described by N V Quinnell (Authy 2) at 'F' SY 86068449 does not appear to be listed by either Grinsell or RCHM. However, these authorities do record a bowl barrow at SY 86118454 with measurement of 48ft diameter and 1ft high. No trace of the barrow or barrows at the two respective sitings can be seen on air photographs RAF/CPE/UK/1821/4423-4. (4)

SY 860844. Three round barrows on Coombe Beacon. Scheduled (Probably 'A' 'B' and 'C'). (5)

A'. SY 86148450. Bell (?) barrow, overall diameter 27.0m. with a ditch 3.0m. wide and 0.5m. deep. Height 2.3m. The berm is not now recognisable.

'B' SY 86158445. Bell (?) barrow, overall diameter 28.5m. with a ditch 3.0m. wide and 0.4m. deep. Height 1.9m. The berm is vague and unsurveyable.

'C'. SY 85998440. Bowl barrow, diameter 24.0m., height 0.6m to 1.3m.

'D' SY 86008435. Bowl barrow, diameter 14.0m., height 0.5m. to 0.8m.

'E'. SY 85968435. Bowl barrow, diameter 14.0m., height 0.8m. to 1.2m.

'F'. SY 86068449. A mound of oval shape, 20.0m. by 15.0m., height 0.6m. probably a much-spread barrow, and evidently that given an erroneous reference by Grinsell and R.C.H.M.

Resurveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (6)

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

National Record of the Historic Environment, 455471 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<1> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 102 (Monograph). SDO132.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 442 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘Coombe Beacon Group (SY 88 SE). Six barrows, including two probable bells; (13–15) lie in a triangle and (16–18) in an almost straight line. … (18) Bowl (?) (86118454) 60 yds. N.N.W. of (17). Diam. 48 ft., ht. 1 ft.’

Record last edited

Jan 22 2024 1:50PM