Monument record MDO7498 - Late prehistoric field system, Challow Hill, Corfe Castle

Well-preserved remains of a late prehistoric enclosed field system are visible as earthwork banks and lynchets on aerial photographs and Lidar imagery of Challow Hill, Corfe Castle.

Challow Hill (SY 962824-969823), Corfe Castle. Traces of 'Celtic' fields cover about 34 acres, between 200ft and 300ft. above O.D. of the W brow, domed summit and N slope of the chalk ridge which continues the Purbeck Hills E from the Corfe Gap. The E end of the group appears to be marked by a lynchet line 1ft to 4ft high crossing the ridge at about 969823. To the E there are no signs of 'Celtic' fields until Ballard Down, Group (SZ 08 SW 23) 3 1/2 miles on. Fields are marked by banks, some confused by narrow rig, and lynchets up to 8ft. High, though generally
much lower. Only two complete fields survive, each about 60 yards by 67 yards, immediately S of Rollington Wood. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821: 2406-7). <2>

Well-preserved remains of a late prehistoric enclosed field system are visible as earthwork banks and lynchets on aerial photographs <4-5> and Lidar imagery <6> of Challow Hill, Corfe Castle. These features were digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1966, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1965, 111 (Serial). SDO65.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 630 (Monograph). SDO150.

<3> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 76 (Index). SDO147.

Earthworks survive in rough grass and gorse on the steep N. slope of Challow Hill. The top of the chalk ridge is regularly ploughed and in ley pasture. Rollington Wood consistS of managed deciduous woodland and lies in the E. part of the site. Clay workings lie at the foot of the slope to the N. Brit. Gas Corp. AP 9706-17. OS SY98SE49. PDNHAS,87(1965), 111.

<4> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2405-06 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13667.

<5> National Monuments Record, 21-FEB-2000, SY 9682/6 NMR 18719/11 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13666.

<6> Geomatics, 2011, Lidar DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO13637.

<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 Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document).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, 456855 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 22 2023 7:10AM