Monument record MDO960 - Stone alignment, Corscombe

A line of stones within the bank of the lane was revealed during clearance in 1953, and recorded by Norman Field. They were interpreted as a possible stone alignment.

An apparent alignment of recumbent stones was discovered in July 1953 at Brachetti Lane, ST 520069 within the line of the East bank and ditch of the lane and appear to continue their line where the lane takes a bend. The appear to be conglomerate, typically measuring 5 feet by 2 1/2 feet. (1-2)

A possible explanation for the stone is that they are part of a field wall formed of large stones at intervals with smaller stones in the yolk which may have been removed. (3

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), RCHM Dorset I West. Undated. Unpublished revision (Corscombe Parish) (Monograph). SDO97.

<2> Farrar, R A H, 1955, Archaeological Fieldwork in Dorset 1955; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, Proc. Dorset Nat. Hist. Arch. Soc. 79 1955 125 (Article in serial). SWX1552.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1956, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1954, 97 (Serial). SDO54.

‘Recumbent stones, Corscombe ; ST(31)/520069. Mr. N. H. Field reports that in the clearing of a disused lane, Brackett’s Lane, for a local afforestation scheme, an apparent alignment of recumbent stones was discovered in July 1953, within the line of the east bank and ditch of the lane, but apparently continuing the alignment where the lane makes a slight bend. They appeared to be conglomerates, and the measurements of the exposed part of a typical stone, of triangular shape, were 5 ft. by 2½ ft. Mr. Field has a sketch plan and photographs.’

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 881900 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 24 2022 1:54PM