Monument record MDO7991 - Giant's Trencher, Godlingston Hill

In 1851 Rev. J. Austen excavated the site but found nothing. <1>

Dug by J. H. Austen 1851. Nothing found. Bowl barrow. Diam. 9 paces. Height 2ft. <3>

A circular mound with a diameter of 8.0m. and a height of 0.5m. With no ditch, berm or visible traces of mutilation. Situated at the bottom of a re-entrant. Gorse and turf-covered bowl barrow. <4>

SZ 01258107. Giant's Trencher (?) barrow, in similar siuation, condition and size as Giant's Grave. Austen found
nothing during his excavation. <5>

It is shown as a circular mound, labelled Giant's Trencher, on William Woodward's survey of Godlingston of 1775. It may be a Bronze Age burial mound but lies in an unusual position for a barrow in the bottom of a dry combe which slopes to the east from the crest of the chalk ridge . <6>

<1> Austen, J H, 1856-7, Purbeck Papers (1856-7), 160 (Monograph). SWX2801.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Map 6in. Prov. Ed, 1926-38 (Map). SWX2257.

(SZ 01258107) Giant's Trencher (NAT) Tumulus (NR)

<3> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F1 FDC 09-OCT-51 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<3.1> Calkin, J B, Annotated Record Map Corr. 6, 1950 (Map). SWX8351.

<3.2> Warne, C, 1866, The Celtic Tumuli of Dorset (1866), 71-2 (Monograph). SWX8166.

<3.3> Grinsell, L V, Dorset Barrows (Unpublished MSs) (Unpublished document). SWX2678.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F2 JR 11-AUG-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 453 (Monograph). SDO150.

(82) Giant's Trencher, barrow (?) (SZ 01258107), 30 yds. E.N.E. of (81) and similar in situation, condition and size. Austen also found nothing in this.

<6> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 298 (Index). SDO147.

Probable bowl barrow diam. 7.6 m and ht. 0.6m. Situated on a steep slope covered in grass, gorse and blackberry. The barrow is overgrown E. of fields regularly ploughed and in ley pasture. A faint rise badly damaged by past excavation.
7/7/D TWA/IOP/1985

<7> The National Trust, 1997, The National Trust Archaeological Survey; Godlingston Farm, Corfe Castle., 31 (Unpublished document). SWX8164.

This site is shown on William Woodward's survey of 1775 and described as the 'Giant's Trencher'. It is shown as a circular mound and may be a Bronze Age burial mound but lies in an unusual position for a barrow in the bottom of a dry combe which slopes to the east from the crest of the chalk ridge . In 1851 Rev. J. Austen excavated this barrow but found nothing ( Purbeck Papers, 157-63). The site lies a few metres east of the Giant's Grave ( 112,116). The reason for either of these names is unclear. RCHM ( 1970, 453) measured the site as 7.6m in diameter and 0.6m high but the site has not been located in the present survey.
Condition: The site is heavily overgrown with gorse and has been excavated. There is no evidence that the area has ever been ploughed. The area around it is rough pasture and scrub grazed by cattle.

<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, 457550 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Dug by J. H. Austen 1851. Nothing found. Bowl barrow. Diam. 9 paces. Height 2ft. (2)

A circular mound with a diameter of 8.0m. And a height of 0.5m. With no ditch, berm or visible traces of mutilation. Situated at the bottom of a re-entrant.

Gorse and turf-covered bowl barrow. (3)

SZ 01258107. Giant's Trencher (?) barrow, in similar situation,condition and size as Giant's Grave (see SZ 08 SW 7). Austen found nothing during his excavation. (4)

Record last edited

Apr 21 2023 3:42PM