Monument record MDO869 - Round barrow on Cheselbourne Down, Cheselbourne

A round barrow on Cheselbourne Down was investigated in 1865 by C Hall, who found two urns in cists. One of the urns appeared to contain bird bones. This may be 'Rough Barrow' also described by Charles Warne in which two urns were found in cists cut into the natural chalk and a coin of Diocletian was found just under the surface at the top of the mound.

[Area cent. ST780010] A barrow was removed in 1865. It stood about 1/4mile south-east of a barrow marked on O.S. map just above Newton farm, and immediately on top of the ridge opposite Bramblecombe gorge.

It was bowl shaped, about 15 yards in diameter and about 10ft. max. height, and surrounded by a shallow ditch. It was said to have been unsuccessfully opened by C.Hall.

The Rev.C.W.Bingham estimated that there were 10 or 12 urns, "enclosed in rude cists of flint", on the western side of the barrow. Two of the urns were inverted and contained cremations. There was also "a curious kind of cover with a handle".<1.1>

Several Roman coins were found. They consisted of third brasses of Domitian, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius ?, Lucilla, and Tetricus I. All the finds are in the Dorset County Museum. <1>

A lid of coarse ware is preserved in the Dorset County Museum. It measures 5ins. in diameter and has a handle projecting from its upper surface. <2>

Three cinerary urns in Dorchester Museum. One 8ins. by 8ins. with one boss remaining : one 8ins. by 7 1/2 ins.; the other 3 1/4ins. by 4ins. Presented by the Rev.C.W. Bingham. [From the descriptions these urns are the same as those illustrated by authority 1.] <3>

Ten or twelve urns from a barrow at Cheselborne. They included a bucket-urn and a globular urn of Deverel-Rimbury type. [References given include 1 and 3 above. 'Barrow Diggers',p.92, is also listed but applies to 32 NE1, and not to this card.] (4)

No trace of the barrow was found during field investigation. Nothing can be seen on AP.CPE/UK/1974/4358. <5.1> [Summary of other authorities.] <5>

Lists and describes two of urns. <6>

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 78 (Monograph). SDO146.

‘A further barrow, destroyed in 1865, lay on the spur E. of Bramblecombe Farm. Some ten or twelve cinerary urns, some inverted, including one globular, were recovered from 'rude cists of flint' on the W. side of the mound. In addition, six coins (Domitian to Tetricus I) were found. An earlier cutting through the centre of the mound, probably by C. Hall, appears to have been unproductive (Hutchins IV, 352; Arch. J. CXIX (1962), 57).’

<1> Hutchins, J, 1873, The history and antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 4. 3rd edition, 352-3 (Monograph). SDO10245.

<2> Buckman, J, 1868, Ancient remains found on the Isle of Portland (Article in serial). SWX1984.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1908, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1908, 135-7 (Serial). SDO19.

<4> Hawkes, C F C, 1933, Barrows. Antiquaries Journal 13, 444 (Article in serial). SWX4347.

<5> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 30-AUG-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 4358 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17622.

<6> Abercromby, J, 1912, A Study of the Bronze Age Pottery of Great Britain and Ireland, 88, 92 (Monograph). SDO10121.

<7> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 100 (Monograph). SDO132.

<8> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 148 (Monograph). SDO146.

‘C. Hall opened a small barrow, Rough Barrow, on Cheselbourne Common and found three urns, one of which appeared to contain bird bones (Barrow Diggers, 92); this is probably the barrow described by Warne (C.T.D. Pt. 3, No. 97) in which two urns were found in cists cut into the natural chalk and a coin of Diocletian was found just under the surface at the summit of the mound.’

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 201871 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2024 2:36PM