Monument record MDO6227 - Dudsbury Barrow, West Parley

A bowl barrow recorded as being around 75 feet in diameter with a mound about six feet high. Excavations in 1935 revealed that this barrow had been built in two main phases. The first mound was about 45 feet in diameter and composed mostly of turfs, and covered a grave which once held a crouched inhumation. The mound was later enlarged, had a ditch cut around it and a cremation under a pottery urn was placed in it. This barrow was destroyed by development. It was formerly scheduled M95e.

Primary crouched interment, (dissolved by acids in soil ?) inferred from presence of oval grave beneath original turf-line, with excavated sand-heaps piled to N. and S. Remains of turfs sagged over primary filling, suggesting former presence of container or coffin which had collapsed. Secondary cremation beneath inverted collar urn of enlarged food vessel type, over which a secondary mound appeared to have been raised which was enclosed by a ditch. <2>

Cinerary urn presented to Dorset County Museum by B. Hiscock per Lt. Col Drew in 1936. <3-4>

This barrow has been destroyed. Its site is occupied by the gardens of two houses, "Broadmead" and "Ridgecote". <5>

(SZ 07549825) (Subsequent publication) Tumulus (NR) (Site of) (NAT) <6>

As described in 1955. <7>

Report of 1935 excavations based on original notes by Col. C.D. Drew, together with a discussion of a group of pottery vessels with shoulder grooves, an example of which was found in the barrow <8>.

Brief description (9). No additional information. <9>

Farrar, R A H, Note in the Dorset County Museum (Article in serial). SDO17958.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1927-38 (Map). SWX1540.

(SZ 07559825) Tumulus (NR)

<2> Grinsell, L V, 1935-54, Dorset Barrows 1935-54 Manuscript (Unpublished document). SWX1556.

<2.1> The Times, 25.4.1935 (Serial). SWX3285.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1953, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1952, 81 (Serial). SDO52.

<4> 1936, Devonshire Association reports and transactions Vol 58 (1936) (Article in serial). SDO17957.

<5> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 26-NOV-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1959 (Map). SWX1197.

<7> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 14-AUG-73 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<8> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1966, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1965, 126-141 (Serial). SDO65.

<9> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 76 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(9) Dudsbury Barrow (07559825), bowl, lay N. of the hill-fort, near the present boundary with Hampreston; diam. 75 ft., ht. 6 ft. The barrow was excavated in 1935 before demolition and was found to be of two main phases. An initial mound, about 45 ft. in diameter and composed mostly of turfs, covered a primarily oval grave in the natural sand, which had apparently once held a crouched inhumation. The mound was later enlarged, a substantial ditch was cut around it and a secoundary cremation under an inverted collared or ridged food-vessel urn was placed in it. (Dorset Procs., 87 (1965), 126-41; Arch. J., CXIX (1962), 5, 11, 65.)'.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457804 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 12 2024 4:37PM