Monument record MDO2731 - Enclosure, Tincleton

(SY 76949223). Remains of a small and weak enclosure situated on the southern slope of a hill, well below the crest, with no indication of an original entrance, although a minor break - probably modern - occurs at 'A'. The eastern side of the enclosure from 'B' to 'C' and the northern side
from 'D' to 'E' have been destroyed by surface diggings which extend into the enclosure and over the entire field. The bank appears to turned to the west at 'D' and may have joined the now shapeless mound at 'E'; between 'E' and 'F' the bank has been ploughed out. The enclosure has the appearance of being Medieval. Surveyed at 1:2500. See ground photograph stereo pair. <1>

Enclosure visible on RAF Aps. On OS 6" 1902 and 1963 editions, a possible hollow way is depicted between SY 77029216 and SY 77059236 which may have some association with the enclosure. This feature can also be traced on air photographs. <2>

The 1947 air photographs show a banked rectangular enclosure at SX 76949223 measuring about 27m. By 50m. With two internal platforms. From a midpoint on the E. side two parallel banks about 12m apart seem to define an entrance way or track leading towards a distinct hollow way to the E.

From the report of 1955 <1> it seems that much of the enclosure had been destroyed, but while there is now no trace of the ditch which was then the primary feature, a rather crude plan of the enclosure is traceable (see illustration).

Ploughing has resulted in distortion; no bank or scarp is more than 0.3m. High and the length of slope usually 3.0m. The area is currently under pasture. A half dozen blocks of stone have been deposited in the adjacent hedge, clearly ploughed up, of which two have been peck-tooled into shape.

Although there is no certainty the Medieval classification suggested by <1> seem reasonable, possibly a farmstead. The association with the hollow way to the east cannot now be established due to ploughing. The earthwork itself is curious because of its pronounced width of 8.0m. To 12.0m. Overall and depth of up to 2.5m., with no evidence of a continuation beyond SY 77759236 on the north and SY 77019217 on the south, as depicted at 1:2500 on M.S.D. of 1956. <3>

An enclosure of a possible medieval date is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs of the 1940s to the north east of Tincleton Cross. The earthworks consist of three sides of a possibly sub-rectangular, banked, enclosure, measuring 33 m by 21 m. <4-5> The enclosure and an adjacent hollow way (see MDO2732) are recorded as medieval features in the NRHE (AMIE 454858). This feature was digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 12-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 4073-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13305.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 25-FEB-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Royal Air Force, 20-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA187 3030-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13362.

<5> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 4073-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13305.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454858 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 26 2023 3:55PM