Monument record MWX518 - Possible post medieval extractive pits, White Nothe, Chaldon Herring

Earthwork of unknown date and function in the form of a ditch. When first recorded, this feature was interpreted as part of an enclosure, but it is now thought probably to be the result of post medieval quarrying. Two pits are visible close to this location as earthworks on Lidar imagery. They may be associated with the post medieval extaction that is considered to have taken place here.

Applies to a wide ditch cut across the neck of White Nothe forming a very strong defensive work from its natural position. It is considered to be an ancient Danish earthwork. <2>

(Centred Danish SY 7720 8093). This earthwork consists of a ditch in the form of an arc, the centre being to the south. The ditch is from 30.0 to 50.0 metres wide, and from 3.5 to 5.0 metres deep. There is a slight bank on the inner (south) side of the ditch, approximately 1.0 metres high and 3.0 metres wide. A causeway across the ditch is positioned opposite the coastguard station and connects it with a disused lookout and signal station within the earthwork. As constructed the position is good for a defensive work, but this is probably mere coincidence. Quarry pits and small diggings exist everywhere in the ditch, and its great size compared with the insignificant inner bank throws doubt upon its construction for defensive purposes. Another similar ditch follows the cliff top for 200 metres in a north-west direction. The ditches all continue to the cliff edge. The site suggests large scale quarrying, and the weak inner bank may represent the partial disposal of overburden. Although the cliff is mainly of chalk the quarrying was possibly for outcrop stone. <3>

Many of the old quarries in this part of Dorset follow a similar pattern to this feature. <4>

Two pits are visible close to this location as earthworks on Lidar imagery <6>. They may be associated with the post medeival extaction that is considered to have taken place here. These features were digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 edition OS map, Dorset 58 NE/SE (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 77288086) Earthworks (NR)

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1901, Ordnance Survey Object Name Book reference revision 1901, 11 (Unpublished document). SWX1268.

<2.1> Burton, P C, 1901, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: P C Burton Agent West Lulworth 1901 (Verbal communication). SWX8421.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 13-DEC-54 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F2 07-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<6> Channel Coastal Observatory, 25-FEB-2009, Lidar (Aerial Photograph). SDO12879.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454116 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 8 2021 1:05PM