Monument record MDO7424 - Bronze Age round barrow, West Hill, Corfe Castle

A probable Bronze Age round barrow visible as a prominent mound on West Hill. The top of the mound is flattened and slightly hollowed which indicates an unrecorded antiquarian excavation. A mound is visible at this location on aerial photographs and is considered likely to be the remains of the Bronze Age round barrow described above. It is one of three Scheduled Bronze Age round barrows recorded at this location on West Hill (See also MDO7425 and MDO31450).

A mound, approximately 16m in diameter, is visible at this location on aerial photographs (2-3) and is considered likely to be the remains of the Bronze Age round barrow described above. This feature was digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project. It is one of three Scheduled Bronze Age round barrows recorded at this location on West Hill (See also MDO7425 and MDO31450).

'A'-(198)-SY95418235. Bowl(?) barrow, 63ft diameter and 3 1/2ft high situated on the narrow spine of West Hill. This turf covered barrow has an almost level top, 43ft across with sunken centre, and on the east side the base is damaged by quarrying. <2>

SY 954824. Round barrow on West Hill ('A'). Scheduled. <3>

112,137 National Importance Round barrow on West Hill, Corfe Castle SY95418235 S.A.M No.187
Description: A probable Bronze Age burial mound visible as a prominent rise 1.1m higha the south but mergin with the crest of the chalk ridge to the north. This bowl barrow is 19.5m dia. The top of the mound is flattened and slightly hollowed which indicates an unrecorded antiquarian excavation. To the east and west of the mound are quarry pits 5-6m wide and 0.7m deep. Visited 8/2/1993.

Condition: The mound has not been ploughed over but the south edge has been damaged by ploughing. The north edge is crossed by an east-west fence beyond which all traces of the mound have been ploughed out. The mound and quarries are covered in rough grass with patches of blackberry and gorse.

Recommendation: Preserve under grass, clear mound of scrub. This field may be taken out of the plough but if not erect a fence 5m from the edge of the mound to prevent further plough damage. Monitor site to prevent further scrub colonisation and damage from burrowing animals. <5>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1929 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 95418236) Tumulus (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 443 (Monograph). SDO150.

<3> Department of the Environment, 1978, Department of the Environment (IAM) Ancient Monuments of England (Vol 2), 63 (Monograph). SWX1687.

<4> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 45 (Index). SDO147.

‘Round Barrow on West Hill. Diam. 19.2m and Ht 1.1m Situated on regularly ploughed grasland. The barrow is unploughed but badly damaged by quarrying on its E. side. The barrow is flat topped and stands 1.1m high on the S. but merges into the hilltop on the N. It is grass covered with gorse and blackberry bushes. An E-W fence crosses N. perimeter. See RAF/VAP/1821:2409 and British Gas Corp/Oblique AP./1979/9706-7. OS SY98SE25A. 1/4/D.’

<5> Papworth, M, 1993, Corfe Village, Common and Vineyard Farm, Corfe Castle Estate, Wessex Region, 19 (Unpublished document). SWX8224.

<6> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2408-09 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13656.

<7> Dorset County Council, XX-XXX-2005, Dorset CC Vertical Digital Photo Tile (Aerial Photograph). SDO13151.

<8> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456817 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 16 2023 7:38PM