Monument record MDO849 - Hollow way, Cheselbourne

The 'Earthworks' shown on Henning Hill by Ordnance Survey maps are almost certainly remains of hollow-ways on a road line passing north west from the valley of the Devil's Brook to that of the Cheselbourne. The two parallel linear features marked on the OS 1st edition map are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and were digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project.

The 'Earthworks' on Henning Hill, shown on O.S. maps (758012), are almost certainly remains of hollow-ways on a road line passing N.W. from the valley of the Devil's Brook to that of the Cheselbourne. <2-3>

ST 75750136 to ST 75900110. An old, well defined hollow-way extending for 290.0m. along the high slope on the east side of a north-south valley. This covered hollow-way is average 8.0m. wide and 1.3m. deep with a strong bank on the down-hill side. It is joined by an east-west lateral branch from ST 75550139 to ST 75710130 (not depicted on OS 25"). Both features form field- boundaries, and are obscured <4.1-4.2> by dense vegetation.

ST 75770130 to ST 75850115. A slighter hollow way, formerly running a parallel course 50.0m. to the west has now been ploughed out. <4>

Destroyed September 1983 during land improvements. <5>

The two parallel linear features marked on the OS 1st edition map are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and were digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project. (Environment Agency 2023).

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch 2 (Map). SDO11594.

(ST 758012) Earthworks

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 79 (Monograph). SDO146.

'The 'Earthworks' on Henning Hill, shown on O.S. maps (758012), are almost certainly remains of hollow-ways on a road line passing N.W. from the valley of the Devil's Brook to that of the Cheselbourne (see diagram on p.320)'.

<3> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3179-81, 3179 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17530.

<4> Stone, J W, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments JWS, F1 JWS 13-DEC-78 (Unpublished document). SDO11902.

<4.1> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/194 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17640.

<4.1> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/195 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17635.

<4.2> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/196-97, 196 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17619.

<5> Historic Environment Record compiler's comments, Mark Simons (Verbal communication). SDO20225.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 201845 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<7> Environment Agency, 15-DEC-2023, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO20691.

Record last edited

Dec 15 2025 5:26PM