Monument record MDO5833 - Enclosure, Long Crichel

An enclosure almost square in shape but with rounded corners can be seen as cropmarks on aerial photographs. The enclosure measures around 30 metres by 20 metres, and consists of a series of small ditch segments of varying length interrupted by causeways. It appears to be associated with a nearby linear feature. The apparent causewayed nature of the enclosure has prompted suggestions that it may be Neolithic.

An undated enclosure and linear dyke, in the extreme E. corner of the parish, have been flattened by ploughing, but are visible on air photographs.

The enclosure (984109) lies on a S.E. slope at about 280 ft. above O.D., just off the summit of the ridge between the Crichel and Gussage valleys. Almost square, but with rounded corners, the sides are about 300 ft. long and enclose some 2 acres; the interior is featureless; no entrance is seen. The linear ditch (98531110-98021065) runs parallel with and very close to the N.W. side of the enclosure. It begins on the ridge-top, in Gussage St. Michael, and extends S.W. for over 700 yds. across the ridge-top and down the slope towards the Crichel Brook. <1>

A rapid examination of air photography suggests that the enclosure has two apparent entrances, on the southeast side. Also visible is a pit defined enclosure (located aproximately 50m northeast of the first enclosure, and similarly close to the dyke) c.30x50m, aligned southeast-northwest, possibly with an entrance on the southeast side. All the features are visible as cropmarks and are of uncertain date. <3>

The features described by the previous authorities were seen as cropmarks and mapped at 1:2500 scale from good quality air photographs during the Neolithic Enclosures Project. A small, subrectangular enclosure lies at ST 9842 1097, it is constructed from a series of causewayed ditches or elongated pits and is 30m by 20m in size. Two ditches or pits mark the south-east side of the enclosure, these are widely spaced and out-turned and may indicate the position of an entrance.

Fifty metres to the south at ST 9837 1086, is a larger sub-rectangular enclosure, 130m by 105m, which is defined by a single continuous ditch 4m across. Three of its four sides are straight and two entrances are visible in its south-east side. The north-west side of this enclosure is sinuous and runs parallel with a linear ditch which can be seen running for 700m from ST 9795 1054 to ST 9844 1104. This ditch may be a trackway or boundary ditch.

No dating evidence has been recovered from this site and therefore the features remain undated, however, the causewayed appearance of the smaller enclosure may indicate a Prehistoric date (possibly Neolithic or Bronze Age). The positioning of the larger enclosure and linear feature; in close proximity to and on the same alignment as the causewayed enclosure, suggests that all three monumnets may be contemporary. <4>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 40 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(32) ENCLOSURE AND LINEAR DYKE, in the extreme E. corner of the parish, have been flattened by ploughing, but are visible on air photographs (R.A.F., CPE/UK 1845: 6050-2; C.U.A.P., ANC 57; N.M.R., ST 9810). The enclosure (984109) lies on a S.E. slope at about 280 ft. above O.D., just off the summit of the ridge between the Crichel and Gussage valleys. Almost square, but with rounded corners, the sides are about 300 ft. long and enclose some 2 acres (Plate 85); the interior is featureless; no entrance is seen. The linear ditch (98531110-98021065) runs parallel with and very close to the N.W. side of the enclosure. It begins on the ridge-top, in Gussage St. Michael, and extends S.W. for over 700 yds. across the ridge-top and down the slope towards the Crichel Brook.'

<1.1> Royal Air Force, RAF/CPE/UK/1845 6050-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19519.

<1.2> St Joseph, J K, St Joseph ANC 57 NMR ST 9810 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19520.

<2> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 13 (Monograph). SWX800.

<3> Miller, Andrew, RCHME/EH/HE Aerial Photographers comment AM, 04-FEB-1993 (Verbal communication). SDO17356.

<3.1> NMR 4287: 01-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19521.

<4> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/091 RCHME Inventory: Dorset V (East) (Unpublished document). SDO18032.

<4> Dyer, Carolyn, RCHME/EH/HE Aerial Photographers comment CD, 17-MAR-1997 (Verbal communication). SDO19361.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF1074398 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Long Crichel Project. Photographic transcription of the sites was undertaken in March 1996 by RCHME Aerial Survey Section, Swindon, as part of the Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic Project.Contents : Report, AP transcription, 3 computer plots, 2 record sheets, miscellaneous research materialCondition : INTACT

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 1082922 (Index). SDO14738.

Long Crichel, Dorset/ink AP transcription

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 1082924 (Index). SDO14738.

Long Crichel, Dorset/report

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210039 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2023 4:36PM