Monument record MDO1788 - Hillfort near Burcombe Farm, North Poorton

An enclosure on a triangular spur formed by a ditch across the spur and steepening of the natural slope on the other three sides, where there are traces of ramparts in places. The internal area of the enclosure is around one acre.

Deep cut across neck of spur at (a) Remains of a stone wall at west end enclosing hummocks probable site of Castle or other building. Hill has very steep sides - Mediaeval? Rampart. <1>

Earthwork (?) <2>

A hillfort, situated on a triangular shaped spur, connected at its narrow end or apex to the main hill. The simple defences consist of a transverse ditch across the narrow end, and the scarping of the remaining three sides of the spur some 12-20 ft below the top, to form a berm. The scarping is least pronounced on the N. slope There are no traces of a ditch, but traces of a slight rampart exist at the W. side of the earthwork. "Just beyond the transverse ditch on the E is a short length of rampart along the crest of the narrow causeway-like end of the spur, and immediately S. of the same is a roughly triangular berm which has a slight ditch at its W. end", divided from the
main transverse ditch by a slight bank. Half way along the S. side of the earthwork, on the berm, is a
slight transverse bank of uncertain date. Within the enclosure are traces of an irregular mound which may
be largely natural. <3>

The description contained in <3> is generally correct though the classification as a hillfort is questionable partly because the earthwork is so small. Though defences are in Iron Age style the point is not conclusive since whatever the age of the site scarping the hillside and throwing a ditch across the narrow neck would be the obvious method of protection. The site is in a topographically strong position. The interior is composed of black soil in contrast to the light brown natural soil of the area. In almost all of the innumerable molehills fragments of split bones - apparently of animals - were found. Many of the bones had been burned. The site is grass covered and there were no pottery finds, or signs of occupation.

C is an irregular mound which shows traces of stone work. It has an average height of 0.5m. The average drop of the scarp in the North is 4.0m and in the South it varies from 5.0 to 7.0m. The average inner height of the bank in the west is 0.6m. The bank is much broken. The entrance is in the East where the ditch has been cut
through the spur. It is partly hewn through rock and has a rough and unfinished appearance. An adequate water supply is available in the streams to the north and to the south of the site. From the general uneven appearance of the interior and the entrance it seems almost certain that this earthwork is post Roman. <4>

Though defensive in construction this feature is not prehistoric in appearance, and a parallel to a similar Dorset e/w. cannot be drawn. The classification of Md. in T.1. - despite lack of evidence - may possibly be correct.

Quoted "length of rampart ..." to the E. of the main feature <3> is, in fact, an old field bank. No trace of walling as in <1>. <5>

[centred at: SY 51209886]. <6>

Surveyed. (7)

Stewart, D, 2014, North Poorton hillfort. A Geophysical Survey (Unpublished document). SDO21397.

<1> Crawford, O G S, Annotated record map 6 inch, 1939 (Map). SWX7265.

<2> Clapham, A W, Record map 6 inch, 1939 (Map). SDO19133.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 181 (Monograph). SDO97.

‘(5) HILL FORT lies on the end of a ridge (415 ft. above O.D.), over ½ m. N.W. of the church. The ground falls steeply to the S. and W., less steeply to the N. and is nearly level towards the E. The internal area is about 1 acre and the total area including the defences about 2½ acres.
The site consists of a triangular-shaped spur connected at its narrow end to the main hill side. The defences are simple, consisting of a transverse ditch across the narrow end, and the artificial steepening of the remaining three sides of the spur at a level of some 12-20 ft. below the top of the spur and the consequent formation of a berm at that level. As the N. slope of the hill is not so rapid as that on the S. the artificially steepened scarp is of no great height. If there was ever a ditch in what is now the berm, on that side, it could have been of no great size and is now entirely filled up. There are traces of a slight rampart along the top at the W. end of the enclosure and a short piece on the S., just short of the E. end where it is turned inwards on the west side of the entrance at that point.
Within the enclosure – which is pear-shaped on plan – are traces of a very irregularly shaped mound which may however be largely natural. Just beyond the transverse ditch on the E. is a short length of rampart along the crest of the narrow causeway-like end of the spur and immediately S. of the same is a roughly triangular berm which has a slight ditch at its W. end; the ditch so formed is divided from the main transverse ditch by a slight bank. On the berm on the S. side, where shown on plan, is a slight transverse bank of uncertain date.
Approaching the camp from Barcombe Farm along the top edge of the southern scarp of the hill side is a slight bank. The surface indications suggest that it may be of later date than the camp.’

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 27-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> AO 55/132/1 and 2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19134.

<6> Field Investigators Comments HC, F2 HC 03-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1260.

<7> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1 to 25 inch scale map, L.S 25" 2/62 (Map). SDO18020.

<8> Lock, G, and Ralston, I, 2017, Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland [ONLINE], EN3715 (Digital archive). SDO17130.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 882539 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Earthworks near Burcombe Farm, North Poorton, Dorset

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS56/F132/1 (Index). SDO14738.

PROBABLE MEDIEVAL DEFENSIVE EARTHWORK AT NORTH POORTON FROM E.

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS56/F132/2 (Index). SDO14738.

PROBABLE MEDIEVAL DEFENSIVE EARTHWORK AT NORTH POORTON FROM E.

<12> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450760 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 7 2025 1:01PM