Monument record MDO7756 - Stone coffin found near Wilkswood Farm, Langton Matravers

A stone coffin with a separate cover and with an iron 'spear' lying beside it, was found south of Wilkswood Farm around 1938. No skeletal remains were found.

A shaped (stone?) coffin with separate cover, together with an iron 'spear' lying alongside it, were discovered in the
wood south of Wilkswood Farm, at circa SY 99507936, about 1938. No skeletal remains were found inside the coffin, and the coffin and 'spear' were later re-interred. (The coffin or cist may be associated with the Romano-British occupation and industrial site which lies in close proximity). <1>

<1> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 28-AUG-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<1.1> Lovell, G S, Oral: G S Lovell (farmer), Wilkswood Farm, Langton Matravers (Verbal communication). SDO19738.

<2> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 679 (Index). SDO147.

S. of Wilkswood Farm: A shaped stone coffin with separate cover together with an iron 'spear' lying alongside it were discovered in the wood S. of Wilkswood Farm about 1938, no skeletal remains found in coffin. Coffin and spear later reinterred. May be associated with R.B. occupation nearby (IOP 286). Reported by farmer G. S. Lovell in 1952. The site lies in managed woodland (deciduous), north of ley pasture. 7/7/C

<3> Papworth M, 1994, Eastington, Acton, Westwood, Wilkswood, New Barn, Corfe Castle Estate, Wessex Region, 50 (Unpublished document). SWX1388.

A shaped presumably stone coffin with a separate cover, together with what was described as an iron ‘spear’ lying alongside it, were discovered in Talbot’s Wood south of Wilkswood Farm buildings in about 1938. Information from the farmer G.S.Lovell (John Rigg O.S. SY97NE44). No skeletal remains were found inside the coffin and the coffin and ‘spear’ were later reinterred. The coffin may be associated with the nearby Romano-British occupation and industrial site 112,071 but may be medieval, a product of the Wilkswood Purbeck Marble quarries carved to order for the tomb of some dignitary. Mr. R. Saville of the Langton Matravers Museum has also heard of this discovery. He says that the coffin was found by George Landers during quarrying. It was of stone with a cross carved on the lid. Inside was the body of a tall man with a helmet and sword. The coffin was buried almost immediately because the quarrymen did not want to be delayed by archaeologists. It seems unlikely to find a high status burial in unconsecrated ground and of the two stories the empty coffin seems the most reliable unless Wilkswood Chapel was nearby.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456463 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 16 2023 8:35AM