Monument record MDO7992 - Bowl barrow, Godlingston Hill, Swanage

A bowl barrow situated on the upper south east facing slope of Godlingston Hill. The barrow is one of three recorded on Godlingston Hill. The barrow has a mound composed of earth, flint and chalk, with maximum dimensions of 13.5 metres in diameter and about 0.75 metres in height. This is surrounded by an infilled quarry ditch which survives as a buried feature 1.5 metres wide. Two small quarry holes situated to the north west and south east of the barrow could also relate to the construction of the monument, as similar features are known to be associated with other barrows nearby. During the 19th century, the barrow was partially excavated by W A Miles and later by J H Austen. The investigations identified a cremation burial lying between two horizontal stones.

This barrow has a diameter of 12.0m. And a height of 0.6m. It has no berm or ditch and is turf covered. It is mutilated by a small pit on top and by pits whih cut into the base in the North West and South West quadrant. Bowl Barrow. 'A' - SZ 01468120. Bowl barrow, 13 paces diameter and 3 1/2ft high opened by J H Austen and possibly previously by W A Miles; possibly primary cremation (?) found. <2>

Large Bowl barrow. Opened by Austen: result uncertain. Another small barrow to the East (not shown on OS 6"). <3>

'A' SZ01468120. Bowl(?) barrow, formerly larger, now slightly oval in plan; average diameter 48ft and about 2ft high. Probably opened by Miles who found a primary cremation between two horizontal stones, and later by Austen who found nothing. <5>

Probable bowl barrow. Diam. 14.6 m and ht. 0.6 m. Situated in a field regularly ploughed and in pasture. A faint rise. <6>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Various, Ordnance Survey Map 6in. Prov. Ed, 1926-38 (Map). SWX2257.

(SZ 01468120) Tumulus (NR)

<2> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F2 JR 11-AUG-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<3> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F1 FDC 25-OCT-52 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<4> Grinsell, L V, 1959, Dorset Barrows, 133 (Monograph). SDO132.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 453 (Monograph). SDO150.

'(83) Bowl (?) (SZ 08 SW; 01468120) on N.E. spur above steep slopes to N. and S., about 450 ft. above O.D. Formerly larger, now slightly oval in plan: average diam. 48 ft., ht. about 2ft. Probably opened by Miles, who found a primary cremation between two horizontal stones, and later by Austen, who found nothing (The Deverel Barrow, 8; Purbeck Papers I, 160).'

<6> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey (Index). SDO147.

<7> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457540 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 20 2025 12:49PM