Monument record MDO186 - Bowl barrow at Wellwood Farm, Beaminster

Bronze Age bowl barrow. This barrow was opened in 1912 by Mr J E Batchelor and Mr E A Rawlence. They found it to be 34 feet in diameter with a ring of flints, interpreted as a retaining wall. Below this was a cremation burial contained within a barrel-shaped urn, thought to be of Late Bronze Age date. Bones found in the urn were said to be those of a child.

(ST 47890356) Urn and burnt bones found AD 1912 (NAT) (1) A tumulus (marked 'A' on plan at ST 47740351) near the western hedge of a field on Wellwood Farm, opened on 28th May 1912, measured 34 feet in diameter and contained a central cairn beneath which at ground level was a pit containing burnt earth and ashes. There was no trace of pottery or bone. On 5th June, 1912, during the removal of the cairn, a barrel shaped urn decorated with coarse lines and containing bone and ashes, was found deposited in a small pit. A similar low mound near the south edge of the field revealed no sign of ground activity, nor any evidence of antiquity. (2) The information above was confirmed by Mr. Payne (a). Mr. Rawlence (b) said the site consisted of a circular ditch full of flints which were dug out by the farmer. See copy of plan from O.N.B. (3) Mr. H. Payne (a) confirmed that the excavated mound was situated approximately at 'A' and said that the siting symbol (1) fell in an area marked out for a gravel pit. Mr. Batchelor and Mr. Rawlence were steward and agent respectively for Col. Digby of Sherborne who owned the land. The pottery was given to Col. Digby and the substance of the mound was used for road building. No traces of a barrow could be found at 'A', nor at the published siting symbol. A probable bowl barrow, situated at 'B' (ST 47780348), is 25.0 metres in diameter by 0.3metre high. It is much spread and there is no sign of a ditch. At 'C' (ST 47860341) is an irregular mound, probably not a barrow. It is 28.0 metres east-west by 17.0 metres north-south, with a height of about 0.2metres. (4) Information as above. The extracts from J. E. Batchelor's notebook were given to Dorset County Museum by C.E. Bean in 1938. This was clearly a Late Bronze Age cremation in a Deverel-Rimbury barrel-urn, probably subsidiary or secondary to the principal interment. The bones were those of a child. Also found was a 'greenstone phallus' about 4 1/2 inches long, said to be in Colonel Digby's museum. (5) 'A'. Site of barrow. Information as above. 'B'. Probable bowl barrow 27 paces in diameter by 1 foot high. (6) Barrow 'A' incorrectly sited by previous authority. Correct siting given on ST 47770352. Diameter 34 feet, with a 3 foot wide retaining wall of flint. (7)

Record last edited

Mar 29 2022 10:11AM