Monument record MDO8792 - Circular earthworks, Sopley Common, Hurn

Circular earthworks maybe possible bee gardens. Earthworks near this location are visible on 1940's aerial photographs and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Stour NMP.

Groups of small circular earthworks, diameter 12 x 26, height about 6 ins, with internal ditches generally found on sandy commons. Heywood Sumner thought they might be old bee-gardens (two in this group). (See SZ 19 NW 10 for the excavation of a similar earthwork which showed a bank with a small inner ditch, but no dating material). <1>

A large part of the area concerned is covered with long-disused sandpits. The ground is heather-covered, and no trace of earthworks was found. <2>

See also SZ 19 NW 10, 13, 15, 43 for similar sites. For results and discussion of the excavation of one of these earthworks, see SZ 19 NW 43. <3>

Two small sub-circular and sub-rectangular earthworks near this location are visible on 1940s aerial photographs and may be those referred to in this record <4>. The small earthworks measure around 6.5m in width and with entrances to the south or east. 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, possibly a military camp or training area. The features are located within an area of partially open heath on current Google Earth imagery but are not clearly visible 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 Phillips, A S, Various, Field Investigators Comments ASP, F1 ASP 31-MAR-69 (Unpublished document).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, 26-MAR-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2548 V 5155-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15555.

<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, 458408 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2024 1:11PM