Monument record MDO8791 - Circular earthworks, Hurn

A group of six small circular earthworks of unknown date and function, may be possible bee gardens. Now destroyed. A group of six small circular earthworks near this location are visible on 1940s aerial photographs and may be part of the group referred to in this record. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

Groups of small circular earthworks diameter 12 - 26, height about 6, with internal ditches, generally found on sandy commons. Heywood Sumner thought they might be old bee-gardens. (Six in this group). <1>

The area siting falls within the limits of a fir plantation, for which the ground has been deeply trenched for drainage. Any minor features, such as described above, would have been destroyed. <2>

See also SZ 19 NW 10, 14, 15, 43 for similar sites. For results and discussion of the excavation of one of these earthworks, see SZ 19 NW 43. <3>

A group of six small circular earthworks near this location are visible on 1940s aerial photographs and may be part of the group referred to in this record <4>. The small earthworks are semi-circular in form, around 4m to 4.5m in width and with entrances to the south or west where visible. The enclosures are considered possibly agricultural in nature, perhaps bee gardens as noted above. They are located within a wider area of military activity, however, and may alternatively have an early 20th century military origin.The features are located within an area of 20th century plantation on current Google Earth imagery and their current condition is unknown.

The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Calkin, J B, 1949, Annotated Record Map Corr. 6 (J B Calkin 1949) (Map). SWX2587.

<2> Phillips, A S, Various, Field Investigators Comments ASP, F1 ASP 31-MAR-69 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

<3> Allanson, Christopher David, Field Investigators Comments CDA, R2 CDA 12-NOV-81 (Verbal communication). SDO17894.

<4> Royal Air Force, 28-MAY-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2548 V 5156-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15553.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BUT01 (Index). SDO14738.

Butcher, S A: Nornour, Isles of Scilly. A large collection of original and copied archive relating, on the whole, to excavations at the site of Nornour between 1969 and 1973. There are, however, also references to a number of other sites on the Scilly isles as well as sites in Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire. See also the Dudley archive (615559) for information on Nornour.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 458405 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 9 2023 9:31AM