Monument record MDO8374 - Pillow mound, Eastington Farm, Worth Matravers

A pillow mound situated on a natural terrace of a south-facing slope, overlooking Seacombe Bottom. The monument has a mound composed of earth and gravel, with maximum dimensions of 18 metres in length, 6 metres in width and about 1 metre in height. To the north, east and west, the mound is flanked by a quarry ditch 1.5 metres wide. One of three potential pillow mounds to the south of Eastington Farm buildings. Only one has been scheduled the others being interpreted as terraces by the NMR.

SY 98427770. Three pillow mounds lie on a terrace (see SY 97 NE 56) south of Eastington Farm. (a). Long mound lying east-west on a slope of 6o immediately above a scarp about 16ft high. It is 60ft long and 21-25ft wide surrounded on three sides by a ditch which, at most, on the east is 3 1/2ft below the top of the mound but merges with the scarp on the south. Although slightly assymetrical, the earthwork gives an impression of sharpness and regularity; its ends are almost rectangular. There is no evidence that the terrace immediately north of it has been ploughed since the mound was constructed. Plan. The two other 'mounds' are sloping shelves constructed under the scarp of the upper terrace. (b). 20 yards north of (a), is about 50ft long and 6ft wide across its sloping top with a south scarp about 5ft high returning to merge with the slope at either end. ©. 30 yards to the west in a comparable position but cut back into the face of the scarp, measures 27ft by 15ft with a downhill scarp about 5ft high and a top sloping east and south. (see plan with SY 97 NE 14). <1> No change: surveyed at 1:2500. Under permanent pasture on land recently aquired by the National Trust. <4> One of three potential pillow mounds visible as earthworks on lidar to the south of Eastington Farm, Worth Matravers <9-10>. This mound is 20m long and flanked on it's southern side by a ditch. The other mounds are described separately in MDO29204-5. Only one has been scheduled the others being interpreted as terraces by the NMR. The features were digitally recorded during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

Record last edited

Apr 17 2023 7:25AM