SDO20590 - The Barrows of Christchurch. Their Past, Present and Future

'The steady destruction of our ancient monuments by the action of man, or by nature, has been going on for many years, but has only comparatively recently been given the attention it deserves. Despite legislation, Government funding, National Organisations with responsibility for ancient monuments, and a heightened awareness in Archaeological circles, little substantial work has been done to reduce or halt this destruction. It was believed that the Bronze Age Barrows within the Borough of Christchurch were a typical example of this decline and destruction. In order to verify this premise, this project looked at their past numbers and significance and their present condition. It then went on to evaluate the options for the future of the remaining barrows. It then focused on these options and debated the alternatives, arriving at the conclusion that some form of conservation was viable. A (sic) appropriate management plan was then constructed, within the constraints of finance, access and conservation. The outcome of this project fully supports the original prediction that, like many others, these barrows will soon be lost if positive action is not taken, and it concludes that the action required to conserve them is realistically available within the existing resources.'