Monument record MDO40 - Abbotsbury Castle, mound
Please read our guidance about the use of Dorset Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
A mound situated within the enclosure of Abbotsbury Castle hill fort, and interpreted as a probable Bronze Age round barrow. In 1952 this monument was reported as being around 40 feet in diameter with a mound about 5 feet high and with traces of a surrounding ditch. The top of the mound is disturbed; it has been suggested that the mound may have been re-used as a beacon in the medieval period.
Map
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
The earthwork mound is clearly visible as earthworks on aerial photographs within Abbotsbury Castle. It is considered likely to be a Bronze Age round barrow, perhaps reused as a medieval beacon (MDO13). The site was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project. <2-3>
Grinsell recorded this barrow as 14 paces in diameter and 6 feet in height. <4>
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SDO97 Monograph: Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England. 1952. An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West). 11.
- <2> SDO11624 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 22-JAN-1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431 3285-6.
- <3> SDO11618 Aerial Photograph: 02-FEB-1971. NMR SY 5586/14-22 (178/32-3 & 292-304).
- <4> SDO132 Monograph: Grinsell, L V. 1959. Dorset Barrows. 85.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SY 5559 8653 (15m by 15m) (4 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY58NE |
| Civil Parish | Abbotsbury; Dorset |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 88
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 001 042
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 58 NE 36
- Royal Commission Inventory Reference: Abbotsbury 42
Record last edited
Dec 19 2016 11:56AM