Monument record MDO42163 - Undated enclosure, Chilfrome

A large rectilinear bank and ditched enclosure s visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and lidar imagery to the south of Luxmore Hill Plantation, Chilfrome. It is of uncertain date and was digitally plotted during the Upper Frome and Sydling Valley AIM project.

[Centred at SY 57379890] Extending across the bottom of a small coombe is a large rectilinear enclosure formed by a bank with an outer ditch.

The bank averages 3.5m wide and is from 0.2-0.5m high.

The ditch averages 2.5m wide and is from 0.1-0.4m deep.

There are two entrances, probably original but also in present use where the enclosure is crossed by a farm track. The entrances occur in the sides facing NW and SE, and average 3.5m wide.

The enclosure seems later than the IA/RB field system in its immediate vicinity. The S.E side has been constructed against and into a lynchet for approximately 40.0m from its N. end, and two further lynchets occur within the enclosure. One of these is small, and enters at the E angle; the other enters the enclosure from the N. and subdivides the earthwork to a limited extent.

The S.W side of the enclosure incorporates 20.0m width of steep N. facing ground, in which some later quarrying has taken place. In the N. angle is an irregular mound 12.0m in diameter and 0.5m high which has been dug into on its S. side.

The earthwork is similar in plan and situation to many other valley enclosures in DORSET, but rather larger than usual. No satisfactory dating has been applied to these, and no dateable evidence was
founding in the present one which is grass covered.

Visible on APs CPE/UK/1974/3386-87 (1)

<1> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 10-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2> Royal Air Force, 06-OCT-1971, RAF/39/3812 V 0204-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16567.

<3> National Monuments Record, 06-OCT-2000, NMR18963/23 (SY5798/5) (Aerial Photograph). SDO16566.

<4> Environment Agency, XX-XXX-2019, LIDAR Environment Agency Composite LAST RETURN (Photograph). SDO16524.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, RCH01/088 RCHME Inventory: Dorset I (West) and Revision (Index). SDO14738.

Record last edited

Apr 12 2022 10:59AM