Monument record MDO2071 - Several burials in cists, Tatton Farm, Portesham

Quarrying of ‘Tatton Hill’ in 1826 exposed several adult inhumations in stone-lined cists. It was reported that eight or ten were in cists, about one foot below the surface, with some charcoal and traces of burning on the stones. In 1928 another adult skeleton was found, also in a cist and at the same depth.

Several unaccompanied adult inhumations in covered slab lined cists, with some charcoal and traces of burning on the stones, were exposed in quarrying ‘Tatton Hill’ in 1826. Eight or ten were in cists, about one foot below the surface. In 1928 an unaccompanied adult skeleton, extended east-west with head to the west, was found at the same depth in a covered cist without end slabs, 6 ½ feet long, 20 inches wide at the shoulders and 15 inches wide at the knees. The posture and type of grave are characteristic of the Roman period in the region.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1929, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1928, 123 (Serial). SDO32.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 604 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(6) TATTON FARM (SY 68 SW). Inhumation Burials have been found on the Langton ridge (Cornbrash) S.E. of Langton Cross. Many burials in stone cists were ploughed up in 1883 on ‘Tatton Hill’ (approx. 629819) adjoining similar remains in Chickerell parish (Chickerell (35)), and skeletons found on Tatton Farm before 1845 probably come from the same cemetery. (Dorset Procs. L (1928), 123; Gentleman’s Magazine (1845), pt. I, 79.)’

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 595 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(35) BUCKLAND RIPERS (SY 69 SW). Inhumation burials have been found on the crest of the Langton ridge (Cornbrash) in the S.W. corner of the former parish of Buckland Ripers (631829).
II 604

According to Ellis several unaccompanied adult inhumations in covered slab-lined cists, with some charcoal and traces of burning on the stones, were exposed in quarrying ‘Tatton Hill’ in 1826 and subsequently reburied together. They were presumably extended. Hutchins adds that eight or ten were in cists, about 1ft. below surface. In 1928 an unaccompanied adult skeleton extended E.-W. with head to W. was found at the same depth nearby (63178191) in a covered cist without the slabs, 6½ ft. long, 20 ins. wide at shoulders and 15 ins. at knees. The posture and type of grave are characteristic of the Roman period in the region. The cemetery apparently extends into Portesham parish (Portesham (63)). (G. A. Ellis, History and Antiquities of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (1829), 254-6; Hutchins II, 492; Dorset Procs. L (1928), 122-4.)’

Record last edited

Feb 12 2021 5:27PM