Summary
Pillow Mound No 4, Hale Purlieu, New Forest (HFCAS 19/97, formerly part of 25/76)
A linear N-S bank, 80m long, 10m wide, 1.5m high, with small extension on W side 15m long, creating broad T shape. Seemingly segmented into smaller 10m sections. Previously interpreted as a pillow mound. NF10309
Identification Images (0)
Monument Types
- PILLOW MOUND (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Description
For an assessment of pillow mounds on Hale Purlieu, please see general archaeological summary.
This is by far the largest pillow mound in the group (see sketch plan). It is over 90m in length and has a westward extention about 20m long. The mound is segmented - probably ten segments separated by shallow non-drainage ditches. The main ditches which surround the mound discharge at five separate points dictated by the slope of the ground. The unexcavated tongue of land which projects into the east ditch appears to be an intentional feature of construction (see Mound No 2). At various points opposite the outlets of the segment ditches there are mounds of soils (marked "m" on the plan) within the main ditches. This is a feature which is even more marked in the case of the Mound No 5. A possible explanation is that the segment ditches are temporary features of the structure, dug out and back filled from time to time in the course of rabbit management. There seems no other reason why the main ditches, which were evidently an important feature of the design,should be deliberately obstructed in this manner. Perhaps we can assume that the site was abandoned in an intermediate phase of this management with some spoil temporarily deposited in the main ditches.
Unlike Mounds No 1 to No 3 (but in common with Mound No5), this site appears to have been constructed deliberately on the edge of the bog. The ground falls away sharply from the western and southern projections of the mound, directly onto the surface of the bog. It should be noted that the only "X" pattern supposed vermin trap so far located on the Purlieu lies almost opposite this mound on the west side of the stream.
This mound is constructed right across the alignment of a sunken trackway which can be traced on the hillside above and on the opposite side of the valley. The scarp below the mound, onto the surface of the bog evidently was not present when that track was formed.(1)
A linear N-S bank, 80m long, 10m wide, 1.5m high, with small extension on W side 15m long, creating broad T shape. Seemingly segmented into smaller 10m sections. Previously interpreted as a pillow mound. NF10309 (2)
References
- SNA65729 - Report: Anthony passmore & Claire Ingrem. June 1997. New Forest Commons of the National Trust An Archaeological and Landscape Assessment. [Mapped feature: #115947 Point Location, ]
- SNA67961 - Measured Survey: New Forest National Park Authority. New Forest National Park Survey of Bramshaw Commons, Plaitford and Hale, New Forest. [Mapped feature: #153545 A linear N-S bank, 80m long, 10m wide, 1.5m high, with small extension on W side 15m long, creating broad T shape. Seemingly segmented into smaller 10m sections. Previously interpreted as a pillow mound. NF10309, ]
Designations
None Recorded
Other Statuses and References
- Common Land
- National Park
Associated Events
None Recorded
Associated Finds
None Recorded
Related Records
None Recorded