Monument record MDO2604 - Enclosure on Cross Hill, Sydling St Nicholas

A sub-rectangular banked enclosure is visible as an earthwork on a 1995 aerial photograph. The enclosure measures around 26.5m long by 15.7m deep and it appears to abut a banked lynchet or boundary on its north side, which may be earlier, possibly medieval in date (see MDO43115). There is a 2m wide entrance on its south side. The earthwork is recorded on the OS 1st Edition map. Its date and function is unknown but it may be post medieval in date, possibly an animal pound. It was digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Stour AIM project.

A rectangular enclosure, 30 yards E-W by 11 yards N-S, formed by a bank which on the north side is continued along the hillside as a scarp. There is a gap in the south side of the earthwork. <2> The earthwork is bounded on the east, west and south sides by a bank 3.5m wide and 0.5m high and on the north by part of a positive lynchet bank. Where the lynchet forms the boundary it has a north slope not more than 1.2m high. There is a 2.0m entrance in the south bank. The enclosure, grass covered without any internal depression, appears to be later than the lynchet. Adjoining the NW corner there is a mound (ST 60 SW 18). <3> No change to report of 28.1.56. This probable pastoral enclosure of uncertain date is well preserved. Surveyed at 1:2500. <6> Manuscript addendum to DHER record cars states: "Inspected 7/6/83 LJK/MS. V. good condition - bank about 2 ft high and under pasture. Associated banks not scheduled. Apparently this field has never been ploughed." <10> A sub-rectangular banked enclosure is visible as an earthwork on a 1995 aerial photograph <11>. The enclosure measures around 26.5m long by 15.7m deep and it appears to abut a banked lynchet or boundary on its north side, which may be earlier, possibly medieval in date (see MDO43115). There is a 2m wide entrance on its south side. The earthwork is recorded on the OS 1st Edition map <1>. Its date and function is unknown but it may be post medieval in date, possibly an animal pound. It was digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Stour AIM project. The earthwork is still visible on Google Earth imagery.

Record last edited

Nov 21 2022 7:08PM