Monument record MDO31487 - Post medieval chalk pit, Ailwood Down, Corfe Castle

A post medieval chalk pit is depicted on the southern side of Ailwood Down on the first edition Ordnance Survey map. A pit is visible as an earthwork at this location on aerial photographs.

A post medieval chalk pit it marked on the First Edition OS map (1), located on the southern side of Ailwood Down, Corfe Castle. A pit is visible as an earthwork at this location on aerial photographs (2-3). This feature was digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

<2> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2402-03 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13669.

<3> Dorset County Council, 2002, VAP (Aerial Photograph). SDO13141.

<4> Papworth M, 1994, Eastington, Acton, Westwood, Wilkswood, New Barn, Corfe Castle Estate, Wessex Region, 63 (Unpublished document). SWX1388.

A gravel pit recorded on the 1891 and 1901 O.S. maps it appears to have been in use at the turn of the century. There are no other documentary references to it. At this location near the foot of the steep south slope of Ailwood Down one would expect the bedrock to be chalk. The pit measure roughly 30m dia.

Record last edited

Oct 4 2021 6:49PM