Monument record MDO1690 - Cross dyke on Melcombe Hill, Melcombe Horsey

A linear earthwork crossing the ridge of the hill, and consisting of a bank with a ditch along the southern side. One of several dykes around Lyscombe Bottom.

Dyke (73950245-74130255), runs WSW-ENE for some 330 yds at over 800ft above OD, across the ridge of Bowden's Hill. It comprises a bank with a ditch on the S or downhill side. The bank is 20ft across 3ft high on the N and 8 1/2ft above the ditch bottom; the ditch is 20ft wide. The ends of the dyke return towards the N along the shoulder of the ridge, and from the W end a scarp with a small ditch at its foot continues the line for about 80 yds to meet a lynchet which links it with (13). Fragmentary 'Celtic' fields lie S of the dyke. (2)

The lynchet on the west, mentioned by the RCHM <2> extends to ST 73800268. A similar feature is visible on the east, running to ST 74160258, and possibly beyond. <3>

ST 73960247 to ST 74110253 A curving cross-dyke running west south west - east north east for some 170.0m across the ridge of Bowden's Hill. The dyke visible on OS air photographs (b) is mutilated for some 20.0m approx. midway along its length by a modern hedge and trackway. The western portion has been recently cleared of scrub and turf and comprises a strong bank 10.0m wide and 0.5m high on the uphill north west side falling 2.6m to the ditch bottom in the south east. The ditch is 6.0m wide and 0.8m deep. Though the dyke proper ends at ST 73960247 the line is continued north-westerly by a pronounced lynchet like scarp, 0.6m high, which runs for some 500.0m to link with the south end of a cross-dyke (ST 70 SW 11) at ST 73530272.

The portion of earthwork east of the hedgerow remains turf covered, with the bank 9.0m wide and 0.8m high on the uphill side 2.0m on the downhill with the ditch 0.7m deep. A modern trackway cuts the site 18.0m from the east end ST 74110253. The line of the bank is continued as a lynchet 0.5m high which runs for some 90.0m northwards.

This dyke is therefore linked physically to the cross-ridge dyke (ST 70 SW 11) on Lyscombe Hill which is in turn linked from its north end, by a strong scarp, to the west end of Nettlecombe Tout earthwork (ST 70 SW 9). This suggests that all three earthworks are coeval and part of an integrated earthwork system of a distinctive pattern.

Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSDs ST 73/7402. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 73960248-ST 74100250) Cross Dyke (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 174 (Monograph). SDO136.

'(14)Dyke (73950245–74130255), runs W.S.W.—E.N.E. for some 330 yds. at over 800 ft. above O.D., across the ridge of Bowden's Hill. It comprises a bank with a ditch on the S. or downhill side. The bank is 20 ft. across, 3 ft. high on the N., and 8½ ft. above the ditch bottom; the ditch is 20 ft. wide. The ends of the dyke return towards the N. along the shoulder of the ridge, and from the W. end a scarp with a small ditch at its foot continues the line for about 80 yds. to meet a lynchet which links it with (13). Fragmentary 'Celtic' fields lie S. of the dyke.'

<3> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3102 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17546.

<3.1> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3103-5, 3103 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17531.

<4> Barrett, G, Various, Field Investigators Comments GB, F1 GB 06-DEC-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<4.1> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/122-23 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17545.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 202065 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 882142 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME, Plush Hill, Lyscombe Bottom, Dorset: Profiles of dykes 15 (north side),14 (north side),17 (north side) Melcombe Horsey and 47 (north side) Piddletrenthide. Within Celtic Field Group (44). Bibliographic References : 1) Pt 2, Dyke 47.2) Celtic Field Gp (44).Pt 23) Pt 2, Dykes 15, 14, 17.

Record last edited

Jan 24 2022 12:57PM