Monument record MDO6244 - Mound on the Leaze, Wimborne Minster

A mound 100 feet in diameter and 6 feet high, with a flat top 30 feet across. The feature is visible on 1940s aerial photographs as a low mound, possibly with a surrounding moat or ditch and a possible banked causeway leading to it from the west; some of the detail of these features may be obscured or misled by retention of flood water. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

34 paces in diameter, 6 ft. in height (Classified under round barrows) (2)

This barrow is 33.0m. In diameter and 1.7m. In height. There are on definite traces of a surrounding ditch; it is situated in low lying ground close to a river - like the large probable BA Bowl Barrow' (excavated) of ST 90 SW 22. (3)

SZ 00649952. Mound, on The Leaze, Wimborne, lies on the alluvial flood plain of the River Stour, within 30 yds. On the left bank.

It is 100ft. In diameter and 6t. High with a flat top 30ft across, but no trace of an encircling ditch. The mound stands within and close to the south side of a nearly circular enclosure, much damaged by ploughing, some 270ft. In diameter and bounded by a low spread bank 20ft. Across and 1 1/2ft. High, with traces of an external ditch; no certain original entrance can be detected. Evidence is lacking, but it is possible that the remains represent a motte and bailey, rather than a barrow (as suggested by Authys. 1 & 2). (4).

SZ 016175. Mound on The Leaze. Scheduled. (5)

A tumulus is situated at the "bottom of a field called Lower Lease", Wimborne, on the north bank of the River Stour, at a place called 'Barrow Pool Shallow' according to Hutchins in 1774. An enclosing fence and small plantation, (later destroyed) on this barrow was apparently made by Sir James Hanham (6th Bart 1726-1806) and may provide an explanation for the "circular enclosure" surrounding the barrow seen by RCHM. (7)

The obvious structure, at SZ 00649952, is a mound 33 metres in diameter and 1.7 metres high, with a flattish top 17 metres across. There is no evidence of a surrounding ditch.

To the north there is a bank 7 metres wide, and from 0.1 to 0.3 metres high, with traces of an outer ditch about 7 metres wide. The bank described a regular arc some 50 metres from the mound. At the western end of the arc, a narrower straight bank 0.4 metres high, extends to a point about 15 metres south of the mound and there are indications that a similar bank existed on the east side. There is a 20 metres gap where both could have joined close to the river bank (see plan); the enclosed area is about 0.6 ha.

The whole is situated about 0.5 metres above the river level, on a terrace 150 metres wide, bounded on the north by a vertical rise of 1.2 metres, now followed by a field hedge, beyond which is the 12th century planned extension to Wimborne, now an area of
medieval desertion (SZ 09 NW 42).

As suggested by R.C.H.M., it seems probable that mound and outer work represent a motte and bailey, possibly controlling a former ford if the shallow element in Hutchin's name 'Barrow Pool Shallow' has any significance. Hutchins reference to a fence and small plantation on the mound suggests an attempt to form an ornamental tree clump here. Surveyed at 1:1250 on MSD. (8)

A castle is documented at Wimborne in 1138. although in a list which is suspect. (9)

A mound within a roughly circular enclosure and situated on the flood plain. The mound is 100 feet in diameter and 6 feet high, with a flat top 30 feet across. There is no trace of a encircling ditch. The mound stands within and close to the south side of the enclosure around 270 feet in diameter and bounded by a low spread bank 20 feet across and 1½ feet high with traces of an external ditch. No certain original entrance can be detected. This may be the remains of a motte and bailey, rather than a barrow.

The feature is visible on 1940s aerial photographs (10).

The feature appears to comprise a low sub-circular mound, around 30m in diamater, possibly situated on a wider rise of ground, although whether this is natural or artificial is unknown. There is a possible banked causeway visible on its west side, which may correspond with a trackway (MDO41017) leading towards the feature from the west. A further section of narrow linear bank with a ditch along its south side is visible at its southwest corner. It is not clear whther these are contemporary with the mound or later additions. The river has clearly been in a state of flood in December 1946 and pooled water is lying in some of the features (10). There is the suggestion of a surrounding ditch on the east and north sides of the mound; this may be a contemporary feature but may alternatively be natural in origin.

The feature is clearly visible on 2012 Google Earth imagery (11). It was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1926/38 (Map). SWX1540.

(SZ00649952) Tumulus (NR)

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

<3> Wrathall, Reginald, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments RW, F1 RW 16-MAR-54 (Unpublished document). SDO18449.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 92 (Monograph). SDO129.

'(83) MOUND (00649952), S.W. of the town, on The Leaze, lies on the alluvial flood plain of the R. Stour, within 30 yds. of the left bank. It is 100 ft. in diameter and 6 ft. high, with a flat top 30 ft. across. There is no trace of an encircling ditch. The mound stands within and close to the S. side of a nearly circular enclosure, much damaged by ploughing, some 270 ft. in diameter and bounded by a low, spread bank 20 ft. across and 1½ ft. high, with traces of an external ditch. No certain original entrance can be detected. Proof is lacking, but it is possible that the remains represent a motte and bailey, rather than a barrow as has been suggested (Dorset Barrows, 143; also O.S. maps).'

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

<6> Penn, K J, 1980, Historic Towns in Dorset, 124 (Monograph). SWX1202.

<7> Mead, Richard, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments RPM, R2 RPM 18-MAY-1981 (Unpublished document). SWX2301.

<8> Quinnell, N V, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 07-JUL-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<9> Cathcart-King, D J, 1983, Castellarium anglicanum: an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands, 129 (Monograph). SDO16340.

<10> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RS 4155-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15997.

<11> Google Earth, 01-JUN-2012, Google Earth 2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12633.

<12> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457909 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2025 4:18PM