Monument record MDO38063 - Pond, Pimperne

The S. part of Pimperne parish was a manor of Breamore Priory, Hampshire. A row of cottages is called 'Priors Lane', "derived, no doubt, from the existence of a former ecclesiastical building, perhaps a priory, attached to that at Breamore … or a grange … A few years since a wall of very solid stone and flint of unusual thickness was demolished…A deep hollow which stands in an orchard near the spot was probably the old fishpond usually found near monastic sites." <1>

The pond exists as an irregular depression, approximately 15.0m. In diameter, with a maximum depth of 2.0m. The site was dry when investigated but according to the occupiers of the adjacent cottage the depression fills after heavy rain. Nothing was found at the site to substantiate Hutchins' theory of an ecclesiastical building existing here, and there seems to be no other records of a monastic establishment at Pimperne. The depression bears no resemblance to a well designed pond, and its archaeological or antiquity value and origin is open to doubt. <4>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 1. 3rd edition, 292 (Monograph). SDO12569.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1928-38 (Map). SWX1540.

[ST 90400888] POND [GT] (Site of)

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 24-OCT-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209341 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 11 2022 7:00PM