Monument record MDO44837 - Round barrow near Woodyates Inn, Pentridge

A barrow near Woodyates Inn excavated in or before 1843 by a Mr W Chaffers. It contained what appears to have been a primary Saxon inhumation, accompanied by an iron dagger and another unidentified object, possibly a spearhead. The grave goods suggest a late 5th-early 8th century date for the burial. Chaffers dug into several barrows in the vicinity of Woodyates Inn, though none of the known barrows can be positively identified with those he excavated. Several contained pottery vessels, but no more detail is recorded.

A barrow 'near Woodyates Inn' (SU 0219) opened circa 1842 by W. Chaffers, remains unlocated. It contained what was probably a primary inhumation of the pagan Saxon period, placed east-west in a chalk-cut grave and accompanied by an iron dagger and an unidentified iron object. <2-4> Only a brief note on Chaffers' diggings was published in Archaeologia (and reprinted later by Warne). The full text is as follows: "12th Jan. 1843. W. Chaffers, Junr, Esq. communicated through Charles Roach Smith, Esq. a short Account of the opening of some Barrows in the neighbourhood of Woodyates Inn in Dorsetshire, in one of which a clay cist was discovered, containing a human skeleton, with an iron weapon, much corroded, lying by its side. The urns found in several of these barrows were formed of coarse earth of different colours and appeared to have been merely dried in the sun." This account suggests that the inhumation, of Saxon date, was primary and therefore the mound was of Early Medieval rather than prehistoric origin. However, neither this barrow, nor any of the others dug into by Chaffers, can be positively identified with any of the known barrows in the vicinity of Woodyates Inn. <1-4> The grave goods which comprise an iron dagger and a possible iron spearhead suggest a late 5th to early 8th century date. <5>

Record last edited

Nov 24 2022 8:26AM