Group of linear earthworks on Worgret Heath

Reasons for Designation

The group of linear earthworks on Worgret Heath extend (discontinuously) over a distance of about 1km and may have originally been more extensive. The earthworks are broadly aligned diagonally across the eastern end of the ridge dividing the rivers Frome and Piddle and may have originally extended from one floodplain to another. The earthworks also pass around a round barrow cemetery which is likely to be earlier in origin. Although not firmly dated, the earthworks are likely to be of Late Prehistoric or Romano-British date. They are generally regarded as a series of trackways which are likely to have related to stock control rather than delineation or defence. As a well preserved monument representing Romano-British or earlier land-use, the linear earthworks on Worgret Heath represent a comparatively unusual survival and all surviving sections are considered to be of national importance. The monument is known from partial excavation to contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.

Details

The monument, which falls into four areas, includes a group of linear earthworks situated on Worgret Heath, at the eastern end of a ridge separating the Frome and Piddle Valleys. The earthworks are in proximity to a dispersed round barrow cemetery and another linear earthwork to the north east, all of which are the subject of separate schedulings. The linear earthworks on Worgret Heath fall into two alignments which appear to have met at a point central to the monument. These features were surveyed by the Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England in 1970. The northern example extends for 400m and is aligned NNE by SSW. To the south, a similar earthwork aligned ENE by WSW, extends (discontinuously) for 900m. Each includes a pair of banks, 7m to 12m in width and between about 0.2m to 0.4m high. These are known to have originally flanked a pair of ditches 4m-5m wide, although the ditches are generally visible now as a single depression between the banks. The southern earthwork has been disturbed by sand and gravel extraction and truncated by road construction. This earthwork, therefore, now includes three sections which vary from 100m to 300m in length. Investigations at the western end between 1989-90, identified the presence of the two buried ditches and traces of a central bank which were not previously visible. Excluded from the scheduling are all fence posts, gate posts and gates relating to the modern field boundaries, although the ground beneath is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

29076

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume I, (1970), 516-7
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume I, (1970), 516-7
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume I, (1970), 516-7
Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset: Volume I, (1970), 516-7

Other
Part Excavations,
Different date of E-W gullies,
Description of E-W gullies,
Description of NW ditch,
Description of SE ditch,

End of official list entry

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