Monument record MDO41035 - Possible post medieval extractive pits, The Leaze, Wimborne Minster

A cluster of irregular ditched features on the Leaze, Wimborne Minster, are visible as parchmarks on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are situated to the south of the Rectory. Their character suggests probable post medieval extractive pits but they may alternatively be modern features associated with wartime defences visible to their north on the same 1940s aerial photographs. Alternativey they may be much earlier features associated with Iron Age or Romano-British activity recorded at this location (MDO23290). The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

A cluster of irregular ditched features on the Leaze, Wimborne Minster, are visible as parchmarks on 1940s aerial photographs (1 and 2).

The features comprise a loose cluster of irregular pits in a broadly southwest to northeast alignment on open ground to the south of the Rectory. The southernmost feature is visible as a shallow irregular depression 14m long by 6.5m wide, which is respected on its north side by a probable post medieval trackway (MDO41024). The character of these features suggests probable post medieval extractive pits but they may alternatively be modern features associated with wartime defences (MDO41026-7) visible to their north on the same 1940s aerial photographs. It is also possible they may be much earlier features associated with Iron Age or Romano-British activity recorded at this location (MDO23290).

The site is still open ground on current Google Earth imagery. The features may be variously visible as cropmarks in some years. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RS 4155-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15997.

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 V 5190-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16000.

Record last edited

May 23 2018 12:15PM