Monument record MDO5912 - Prehistoric enclosure in High Wood, Pamphill

A large oval enclosure measuring about 98m by 110m. Earthworks first noted during an archaeological survey by the National Trust of their Kingston Lacy Estate in 1988. Subsequent earthwork survey in 1992 by the RCHME revealed a sub-rectangular enclosure defined by a ditch with an external bank, categorised as a D-shaped enclosure of later Iron Age or early Romano-British date, though surface finds of worked flint suggested an earlier date was possible. Parts of the earthwork had been disturbed by quarrying. Excavation by Martin Papworth in 2008 confirmed a late Iron Age or early Romano-British date for the enclosure, and indicated that the quarries were themselves Romano-British in date. Other finds suggested that the enclosure had been created in an area of earlier Iron Age activity.

The enclosure and field system at High Wood Badbury was surveyed by staff of RCHME in 1991, for further information see archive collection. <2>

A large oval enclosure measuring about 98m by 110m. Earthworks first noted during an archaeological survey by the National Trust of their Kingston Lacy Estate in 1988. Subsequent earthwork survey in 1992 by the RCHME revealed a sub-rectangular enclosure defined by a ditch with an external bank, categorised as a D-shaped enclosure of later Iron Age or early Romano-British date, though surface finds of worked flint suggested an earlier date was possible. Parts of the earthwork had been disturbed by quarrying. Excavation by Martin Papworth in 2008 confirmed a late Iron Age or early Romano-British date for the enclosure, and indicated that the quarries were themselves Romano-British in date. Other finds suggested that the enclosure had been created in an area of earlier Iron Age activity.

The enclosure and later chalk pits are visible as earthworks under trees on lidar imagery <4> and were digitially plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour Catchment AI&M Project.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1989, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1988, 142 (Serial). SDO88.

'David Smith the Kingston Lacy warden for The National Trust has identified a large oval enclosure lying 300 m east of Badbury Rings and sharing the same knoll as the hill fort.

The site lies within High Wood (ST 969032) on the crest of the knoll 85m OD. It has been obsured by trees and mutilated by old gravel quarries. After the clearance of undergrowth, the enclosure is easily traceable on the ground. The bank 6.4 m wide and 0.5 m high is external to the ditch which is 6.0m wide and 12. m deep below the top of the bank. The overall dimensions are 98 m north-west to south-east and 111 m north-east to south-west. No entrances are visible and if they existed they have been destroyed by the quarries.

Numerous burnt flint fragments and occasional struck flint flakes have been found on the monument.'

<2> Riley, H, Field Investigators Comments: Hazel Riley (Unpublished document). SDO17469.

<2.1> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 1061620 (Index). SDO14738.

Badbury High Wood

<2.2> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 889165 (Index). SDO14738.

Badbury High Wood/pencil survey

<2.3> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 898789 (Index). SDO14738.

Badbury High Wood/ink survey

<2.4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF0889136 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Badbury High Wood, Dorset. The enclosure and field system were surveyed in 1991 by RCHME Salisbury.Contents : 2 plans, report, notes, research materialCondition : INTACT

<3> Papworth, M, 2009, Evaluation Excavation within High Wood, Kingston Lacy Estate, Pamphill. (ST969 032) Interim Report: Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society (Article in serial). SDO13959.

<4> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 962868 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 9 2023 3:10PM