Monument record MWX3081 - Enclosure in Cambridge Wood, Brownsea Island, Studland

"L"-shaped enclosure on Brownsea Island. Shown on Taylor's map of 1770. (1)

<1> Papworth, M, 1992, Brownsea Island, Dorset. Wessex region, 112,554 (Unpublished document). SWX1390.

A bank and ditch form two sides of an enclosure within Cambridge Wood at the top of the NW facing cliff. From the top of the cliff the bank runs SE for 50m turns a right angle then runs 100m NE. Both sides of the enclosure end abruptly at the cliff edge, the ditch is on the outside of the bank. Both the ditch and the bank are 2m wide. The bank is 0.5m high and the ditch is 0.3m deep. A ‘L’ shaped line on Taylor’s 1770 map (DCRO photocopy 1/1) may be this site but it is clearly shown on the O.S. 2” – 1 mile 1808 map which shows a right angled turn at the NE end, perhaps the third side to an, originally, rectangular enclosure which has since been truncated by coastal erosion. The date of the enclosure is unknown but the truncated nature of the site indicates that coastal erosion has been taking place over several hundred years. No earthworks within the enclosure were visible. Visited 2/3/1988.

Record last edited

Oct 5 2021 10:11AM