SDO10164 - Christchurch; St Catherine's Hill. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

In January 1976, K. Jarvis conducted emergency earthmoving funded by Christchurch Council to give some protection to barrows eroding into old quarry workings on St Catherine's Hill. The barrow numbers below are from the OS record card series. SZ19NW22. About 30cm of topsoil was added to the centre of the barrow to reduce erosion due to a path over the barrow. SZ19NW23. Minor pits in the barrow were filled in. SZ19NW24. A large quantity of sand was banked against the eroding edge of the barrow and a path was re-routed to to encourage the public to avoid the barrow. SZ19NW25. A large quantity of sand was banked against and over this barrow. Trees were planted to cut off access. SZ19NW26. The irregular shape of this mound suggests it is probably the Napoleonic beacon mentioned in documentary sources to be on St Catherine's Hill. It may or may not have been built on an existing barrow. No work was involved.