Monument record MDO20419 - Enclosure, Abbotsbury Castle

Enclosure sometims described as a 'Roman Signal Station'. Excavation in 1974-5 showed that, although a Roman date was possible for the enclosure, it was certainly post Iron Age. It showed no features of a signal station. The site was not defensible, and a pastoral usage was suggested.

Enclosure sometims described as a 'Roman Signal Station', excavation in 1974-5 showed that, although a Roman date was possible for the enclosure, it was certainly post Iron Age, it showed no features of a signal station. The site was not defensible and a pastoral usage was suggested.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1975, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1974, 56 (Serial). SDO74.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 9-11 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(31) . . . At the W. end there also appears to have been an enlargement of the defences, but here the most notable addition is that of a small internal squarish enclosure of slight elevation, with a ditch cutting through the main ramparts of the camp. It has been conjectured to represent a Roman signal-post, but there is no evidence.'

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1976, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1975, 51 (Serial). SDO75.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1982, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1980, 106 (Serial). SDO80.

’17. ABBOTSBURY CASTLE. SY 556866. On greensand ridge at 210 m. Triangular hill-fort, bivallate with added end defences. Total area about 4 ha. Group of hut circles appear as low banks with entrances to north-east. No surface finds recorded but excavation of small square enclosure at west end produced minimal Iron Age material and did not support the suggestion that it was a Roman signal station (J. Beavis, 1974, Proceedings 96, 1974, 56 and 97, 1975, 51).’

Record last edited

Oct 10 2024 2:27PM