Monument record MDO4576 - Round barrow, one of the Chestnut Farm Group, Pimperne

Bronze Age round barrow. In 1972 this monument was reported as being approximately 65 feet in diameter, and flattened by cultivation. The record for this monument has been enhanced with support from Wessex Water. The feature is visible as a sub-circular ring ditch cropmark on an undated aerial photograph and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

The Chestnut Farm Group of at least nine barrows, all totally flattened by cultivation, but visible as soil-mark ring-ditches on air photographs. There are possibly traces of other barrows in the group. A linear ditch, seen on the photograph, which makes an angular detour around barrow (E) and cuts into barrow (F), appears to be of comparatively recent origin. References and dimensions are approximate. … (H) Barrow 90360927 diam. About 65 ft. <2> All barrows and barrow cemeteries within Cranbourne Chase are to be assessed for scheduling. The barrows of this cemetery had all been levelled by cultivation by 1969 and they continued to be ploughed subsequently. Most of the group is still in arable. The southern barrow now lies in a pasture field and is grass covered, while one or two of the others lie on the edge of arable and pasture. An examination of recent aerial photographs held by Dorset County Council, including those taken in 1997, was inconclusive. An extensive trawl of all recent aerial photographs combined with geophysical survey and/or archaeological evaluation may indicate the extent of surviving deposits. However, it is suggested that this barrow group should not be scheduled at this time. <3> The feature is visible as a sub-circular ring ditch cropmark on an undated aerial photograph [5]. The feature measures just over 25.5m in diameter and the ditch itself approximately 1.5m wide, although the feature appears 'spread' on its northwest side, possibly due to the cutting of several small pits of uncertain date (see MDO44533) into this side of the feature, or possibly alternatively the result of plough action. The feature was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

Record last edited

Oct 18 2022 10:15AM