Monument record MDO2066 - Hampton Stone Circle, Portesham

Incomplete circle of sarsen stones. Excavated by G J Wainwright for the Ministry of Works in 1965 after disturbance. The positions of sockets that held the stones were identified, and the circle reinstated.

[SY 59628648] "Small stone circle." <2>

Eighteen stones. The eastern seven form an arc, probably in situ, which would form a circle with a diameter of 43 ft. <6>

Scheduled Ancient Monument: Hampton stone circle. <4>

A circle of sarsen stone, incomplete and cut across from N-S by a high hedge and bank, separating three westerly stones from thirteen others. Of the eastern ones ten are probably in their original positions, suggesting an original diameter of 35 ft for the circle. The stones are irregularly placed, and being of cube-like shapes it is impossible to decide whether they are recumbent or upright though probably the latter. [Plan shows 16 stones all told]. <4>

SY 59618650. The number of stones in the circle is not 13 as stated in Auth <1> but 15 on the east side of the hedge and 3 on the west side of the hedge. The stones are of sarsen and conglomerate and average 0.5m high. Most are of cube shape, but at least two are elongated and prostrate.

Seven stones of the circle form an arc on the eastern half of the site, which suggests that they are in their original positions. From this the circles diameter was probably c.11.0m. The elongated stone at the extreme NW of the site and the two stones to the east of it, appear to have been displaced slightly to the north.

The five other stones on the east side of the hedge and the three on the west side are all displaced, perhaps during the construction of a low field bank from which the hedge stems.

The circle does not seem likely to suffer further damage. It is set in an area of pasture of a very stoney nature and unsuitable for ploughing. <6>

Surveyed on field document. <7>

Mr R N R Peers of the Dorset N H and A Soc. Reported to the Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments that the stones to the west of the hedge bisecting the Circle [3 stones in all] had recently been removed. The stones were placed in the hedgerow and the field appeared to have been ploughed for the first time. To the Police, Mr. Swaffield the tenant, denied responsibility for removing the stones, and the Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently did not feel able to effect a prosecution. Two things are now being considered:- the necessity for an excavation and the urgent need for the resiting of the stones. <8>

An incomplete circle of sarsen stones. Twelve stones were identified on aerial photographs and digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project. <4-5>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1908, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1908, LXXVII (Serial). SDO19.

<2> Crawford, O G S, Annotated record map 6 inch (Map). SWX7265.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 1 Inch to 1 mile, 6th edition (Map). SDO17506.

Stone Circle [OE]

<4> Piggott, S, and Piggot, C M, 1939, 'Stone and Earth Circles in Dorset', Antiquity Volume 13 Issue 50, 138-158 (Article in serial). SDO19843.

<5> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1953, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1952, 81 (Serial). SDO52.

<6> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 15-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<7> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Large Scale/Small Scale Map Reviser's comments, Small scale 6" 21.12.1956 (Verbal communication). SDO19451.

<8> Dewar, H S L, Letter: H S L Dewar, 8.12.1964 (Verbal communication). SDO19811.

<9> Wainwright, G J, 1966, The Excavation of Hampton stone circle, Portesham, Dorset (Article in serial). SWX807.

<9> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1967, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1966, 122-127 (Serial). SDO66.

<10> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 513 (Monograph). SDO150.

'(58) STONE CIRCLE (SY 58 NE; 59628650), on Portesham Hill, stands 550 yds. S.E. of Hampton Barn on a level site about 680 ft. above O.D. (Fig. p. 514). Excavations in 1965, by Dr. G. J. Wainwright of the Ministry of Public Building and Works, established that the surviving stones were not bedded and that there had been an earlier circle. This circle, represented by the sockets of stones, lay under and to the W. of the field bank which crosses the site. It was 18 ft. to 20 ft. in internal diameter and was composed of nine stones, set in two arcs to N. and S.; the E. and W. sides were defined by narrow V-sectioned ditches. A hollowed track, running up to the circle on the N., was revetted on its W. side by small flat stones, and three stake-holes were found on the perimeter of the circle immediately to the W. A low bank of clay had been constructed between the track and the stones in the N.W. quarter and the S. edge of the socket on the E. side of the track was also built up with clay and stones. The circle had been disturbed before or by the building of the field bank with its side ditches. Stones have now been placed in the excavated holes. (Information from Dr. G. J. Wainwright; Dorset Procs. XXIX (1908), lxxviii (with photograph of later circle), 250; LXXXVIII (1966), 122–7; Antiquity XIII (1939), 142, fig. 2; O.S. Map of Neolithic Wessex, no. 143; R. D'O. Good, Weyland (1945), 32.)'

<11> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, RCHME Ms file (Unpublished document). SDO19490.

<12> 11-JUN-1978, NMR OS/78080 105-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11674.

<13> 06-DEC-2006, NMR SY 5986/12 (24499/41) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11673.

<14> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 884072 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Portesham Stone Circle on Hampton Hill, Dorset. 1 of 3 plans on this sheet. GAM 884064 and GAM 884079

<16> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AO55/113/3 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW FROM SOUTH-EAST. A SMALL STONE CIRCLE BISECTED N/S BY A BANK AND HEDGE WITH 15 STONES ON THE EASTERN SIDE AND 3 ON THE WEST

<17> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB72/03725B (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN OF STONE CIRCLE. THE STONES WERE NOT BEDDED AND WERE ON THE SITE OF AN EARLIER CIRCLE

<18> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS55/F113/3 (Index). SDO14738.

HAMPTON STONE CIRCLE AT PORTESHAM FROM THE SOUTH EAST.

<19> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450399 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 20 2023 7:52AM