Monument record MDO6069 - Hillfort in Mistleberry Wood, Sixpenny Handley

A hillfort on the south slope of a spur, unfinished on the south-western side. The enclosure consists of a bank with an external ditch which might, if complete, have enclosed an area of around 2 acres. In 1975 the most complete parts of the bank were described as around 24 feet across and 4 feet high, with the ditch of similar dimensions. There is an entrance on the south east side. It is thought that this monument is Mealeburg, named in a charter of AD 956.

ST 996 195. Mistleberry. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 0.8ha. <4>

An earthwork enclosure in Mistleberry Wood, immediately adjacent to the Wiltshire border. Described by RCHME as an unfinished hillfort, it occupies a less than ideal defensive location on the southern slope of a spur, overlooked by higher ground to the northeast. The enclosing earthworks consist of a bank with external ditch. Assuming that a complete enclosure was the intention, the eastern half is more or less complete, with a southeast facing entrance gap. On the northwest, the bank gradually reduces in height, while the ditch becomes a series of shallow pits. No earthworks are evident in the southwest quadrant (this area may, of course, have been enclosed by some other, non-earthwork, means). At its maximum extent, the bank is 24 feet wide and 4 feet high. The ditch is also a maximum of circa 24 feet wide. If complete, the earthworks would enclose an area of circa 2 acres. The site is probably to be identified with Mealeburg, which is mentioned in a charter of 956 AD. Otherwise there is no dating evidence, although an Iron Age date is commonly assumed. <9>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1937, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1936, 116-119 (Serial). SDO39.

’13. Thanen on Mealeburg northwarde: “Then to . . . Camp northward.”
The name of this camp seems to have got corrupted in both ancient and modern times. The Mealeburg of this charter is almost certainly the Micel Burh, “Great Camp,” of the Broad Chalke charter, the name of which has come down in a corrupted form in the name of Mistleberry Wood on the N. By ½m. NE. of New Town. (O.M.1).’

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 996195) Camp (NR)

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 70 (Monograph). SDO129.

‘(25) UNFINISHED HILL-FORT, in Mistleberry Wood in the extreme N. of the parish, occupies a weak defensive position on the S. slope of a spur between 475 ft. and 500 ft. above O.D. (996195). It lies within an area of Clay-with-flints and is obscured by trees and bushes. The defences, which comprise a bank with an external ditch, have been left unfinished on the S.W. side, but if complete would enclose an oval of just over 2 acres. At its best the bank is 24 ft. across and 4 ft. high and the ditch is of similar dimensions. The unfinished nature of the earthwork is clearest on the N.W. where the bank gradually diminishes in height and the ditch becomes a series of shallow pits. There is an original entrance on the S.E. side. The site is probably to be identified with Mealeburg, which occurs in a charter of 956 relating to Handley (Dorset Procs., 58 (1936), 118).’

<4> Hogg, A H A, 1979, British hillforts: an index, 206 (Monograph). SDO17414.

<5> Bowen, H C, 1990, The Archaeology of Bokerley Dyke, 86 (Monograph). SWX800.

<6> Lock, G, and Ralston, I, 2017, Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland [ONLINE], EN3599 (Digital archive). SDO17130.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 884608 RCHME: Mistleberry Wood Hillfort, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset (Index). SDO14738.

<8> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/091 RCHME Inventory: Dorset V (East) (Unpublished document). SDO18032.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209757 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 30 2022 9:58AM