Monument record MDO8010 - Inhumation burials, Durlston Cliff House, Swanage

The osseous remains of no less than eight bodies were unearthed at The View. Four of the skeletons were in laid cists constructed of rough stones. All the rest of the bodies, which were probably of a late date, had the feet towards the east and were laid in the usual supine posture, quite straight. A fragment of black pottery, and a portion of a vessel with a handle were also picked up. <1>

Four or more skeletons in stone lined cists found June 1904 when laying foundations for Durlston Cliff - now called The View. <2>

This house is now called 'Durlston Cliff'. There have been no further recorded discoveries in the vicinity. <3>

Listed under Roman in the Commission. No further information to that listed in <1>. <4>

<1> Hardy W M, 1910, Old Swanage (1910), 11 (Monograph). SWX3274.

<2> Calkin, J B, 1950, Annotated Record Map Corr. 6 (Map). SWX2543.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 03-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3 (Monograph). SDO150.

<5> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 317 (Index). SDO147.

Burials were found under a large detached house. Rough grassland crossed by footpaths lies E. of the building and beyond this the cliff. To W. is the built up area of Durlston, Swanage.
7/7/D TWA/IOP/1985

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457451 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 14 2023 3:17PM