Monument record MDO2065 - Enclosure south of Benecke Wood, Portesham

Remains of an enclosure of uncertain date and purpose south of Benecke Wood. Also visible as a low earthwork and a cropmark on aerial photographs

Remains of an angular enclosure of uncertain date and purpose lie south of Benecke Wood on a gentle south facing slope. Only two sides and part of a third remain, consisting of a low bank about 20 ft across with an outer ditch, all disturbed by gravel digging and solution hollows. The south part has been destroyed by ploughing. <1>

SY 61578698. The fragmentary remains of this enclosure (of uncertain purpose) remains as described by RCHM <1> in pasture. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <2>

Also visible as a low earthwork and a cropmark on aerial photographs <4-7>. This site was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(57) ENCLOSURE, angular (SY 68 NW; 61578700), lies S. of Benecke Wood on a gently S.-facing slope. Only two sides and part of a third remain, consisting of a low bank about 20 ft. across with an outer ditch, all disturbed by gravel digging and solution hollows. The S. part has been destroyed by ploughing. The enclosure might have been connected with ancient fields of Group (5) to the S.’

<2> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 01-APR-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<3> Papworth, M, 1983, The South Dorset Ridgeway Project: condition and management survey, SDR 703 (Index). SDO12304.

In disturbed grassland. 7/ - / E

<4> Royal Air Force, 17-1-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 1067-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11909.

<5> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3297-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11895.

<6> 1-2-1968, MAL 68052-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11913.

<7> 25-4-1968, NMR OS/68078 001-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11896.

<8> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452533 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 31 2022 8:58AM