Monument record MDO4537 - Possible pillow mound, Okeford Hill, Okeford Fitzpaine

One of two oval mounds on the tip of a narrow spur, interpreted as possible pillow mounds. In 1970 this monument was recorded as measuring 29 feet by 21 feet, and about two feet high.

'A' (ST 81081023) and 'B' (ST 81111014) are two oval mounds, measuring 29 feet by 21 feet, and aligned east to west. They stand up to 2 feet high and have rounded cross-profiles. There are traces of a ditch on the south side of 'B' and on the north side of 'A' suggested as pillow mounds by Grinsell. <2> <3>

'A' ST 81071022 and 'B' ST 81101013. Two well preserved turf-covered pillow-mounds each measuring 9.0 m northeast/southwest by 6.0 m transversely, and up to 0.4 m high. The oval quarry scoops on the north of 'A' and south of 'B' average 5.0 m by 4.0 m and 0.2 m deep, and clearly the source of material for the mounds.

Both mounds occupy the top of a very steep sided narrow north-south spur. Poorly defined on OS air photographs. Revised at 1:2500 on AM; transferred to MSD. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25 inch scale map, 1900 (Map). SDO18020.

ST 81101013 Tumulus (NR)

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 121 (Monograph). SDO132.

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 207 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(48) Two low MOUNDS, (a) 81111014, (b) 81081023, lie just below 500 ft. above O.D. near the level tip of a narrow spur running northwards from Okeford Hill. Both mounds are aligned E.-W. and are oval in plan, measuring 29 ft. by 21 ft.; they stand up to 2 ft. high and have rounded cross-profiles. There are traces of a ditch on the S. side of (a) and on the N. side of (b). Suggested as pillow-mounds by Grinsell (Dorset Barrows, 121), their purpose is unknown.’

<4> Stone, J W, Field Investigators Comments JWS, F1 JWS 06-MAR-78 (Unpublished document). SDO11902.

<4.1> Ordnance Survey, 6.6.75, OS 75/371 004 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17764.

<5> Department of the Environment, 1978, Department of the Environment (IAM) Ancient Monuments of England (Vol 2), 66 (Monograph). SWX1687.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206231 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 21 2022 4:15PM