Monument record MDO7483 - Romano-British settlement near Westhill Wood, Corfe Castle

Substantial Romano British occupation debris was discovered in 1959 by P A Brown on the crest of the ridge above Westhill Wood, near Hounstout Cliff, about 475 ft above sea level. (1)

Ploughing revealed Samian ware, coarse pottery of the 1st or 2nd century to the 4th century, a bronze coin of Carausius identified as an imitation dateable to not before AD 293, some clay roof-tile fragments, chert and flint flakes, fragments of shale waste and two cores (one of Catkin's class A) from the turning of shale armlets. (2)

A low mound about 2ft high and 75ft diameter at SY 95067783 was associated with much limestone debris and at SY 95067780 another concentration of stones was seen. Other concentrations may exist as the field was not all under the plough when visited. It does not seem likely that either of the concentrations are ploughed down barrows or cairns.. Remains of field lynchets exist in the area (3)

<1> Farrar R A H (ed ), 1959, A Romano-British occupation site near Westhill Wood, Hounstout, Corfe Castle, 108 (Article in serial). SWX8717.

‘In 1959 Mr. P.A. Brown discovered substantial traces of occupation during the Roman period on the crest of the limestone ridge above Westhill Wood towards Hounstout, and opposite the two known settlements associated with a field system above Chapman’s Pool. Recent ploughing revealed much pottery, including samian ware, ranging from the 1st to the 4th century, a few chert and flint flakes, fragments of shale waste and two cores (one of Calkin’s class A) from the turning of shale armlets. There was also a bronze coin of Carausius, identified at the British Museum as an imitation datable not before A.D. 293, the mint-mark being a copy of the latest London mark of this emperor. A low mound about 2 feet high and 75 feet in diameter, at SY 95067783, was associated with much limestone debris, some of it large, and about 40 yards further south (95067780) another concentration of stones could be seen. Other concentrations might exist, as the field was not all under plough when the writer visited it. A few fragments of earthenware roof-tile add to this evidence for substantial permanent structures on the site, as it does not seem likely that either of the concentrations are ploughed down barrows or cairns. Remains of field lynchets exist in the area.‘

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1960, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1959, 108 (Serial). SDO59.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 600 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(239) WESTHILL WOOD, ENCOMBE (SY 97 NE). Occupation Debris comes from ploughing above Westhill Wood near Hounstout Cliff, about 475 ft. above sea level (950778). The debris consists of samian ware, coarse pottery of the 1st or 2nd century to the 4th century, a coin of Carausius of c. 293, some clay roof-tile fragments, chert and flint flakes, and shale waste including a few cores from turned armlets. A mound (95067783), some 75 ft. in diameter and 2 ft. high, shows much limestone rubble. (Dorset Procs. LXXXI (1959), 108.)’

<3> Graty, D J, Field Investigators Comments DJG, R1 DJG 20-JUN-85 (Unpublished document). SDO17664.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456454 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 7 2022 4:44PM