Monument record MDO8813 - Circular earthwork on Sopley Common

Circular earthworks originally described as bee gardens now thought to be either military, forestry or horticultural earthworks. A wide concentration of banked and ditched earthworks and enclosures are visible at this location on 1940s aerial photographs and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP.

Earthwork ring on Sopley Common, resulting from either forestry or horticultural practices. (1) A wide concentration of banked and ditched earthworks and enclosures are visible at this location on 1940s aerial photographs and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP (2). Some of these enclosures and earthworks have been potentially identified as earthworks recorded as child records within this parent record. Additional earthworks have also been recorded under MDOs 39673; 39674. The banked earthworks are typically semi-circular or comma shaped in form, some with internal ditches also visible. The size and shape of the earthworks varies and it is not known whether they are all contemporary or whether they reflect different dates and functions. It is possible some of the enclosures have a horticultural or agricultural function, possibly associated with medieval bee gardens, as noted above. They are located within an area of concentrated military activity, however, and it seems likely that some or all of the earthworks and enclosures are alternatively early 20th century military in origin, possibly associated with a military camp and/or training area. The earthworks are situated within an area of partially open heath in 2017 but are not visible on current Google Earth imagery.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2020 11:06AM