Prehistoric Features
The Parish has an extensive archaeological heritage ranging from prehistoric times to the medieval period.
The parish has forty nine round barrows and large areas of Celtic field systems. Originally the barrows or tumuli would have been white chalk and would have been far more conspicuous than they are today.
Most of the barrows or tumuli appear to have been sited to be viewed from the valley itself. This would suggest that the valley was occupied for hundreds of years in early periods.
Winterborne St Martin to the east has the most barrows of any Dorset parish and the famous Maiden Castle, Europe's largest earthwork.
Of particular note in Winterbourne Steepleton parish are :
2 No Neolithic long barrows (chambered) in the Coombe Farm area.
A prehistoric square barrow, round barrow and iron age field system near Loscombe farm.
At Cowleaze, three square enclosures each with an internal mound were excavated by P J Woodward in 1982. The enclosures are 20-22m across and prior to excavation had been interpreted by the NMR as Iron Age square barrows. The excavations concluded that an Iron Age date was unlikely and that the features were more likely to be post medieval in date; documentary maps and present field and wood names suggesting that they are more likely to be earthworks associated with the management and farming of rabbits. During the mapping, the possible site of a fourth enclosure was identified, 90m to the southwest of the other three, as well as a round mound interpreted as the site of a rabbit warren on the strength of its proximity to the other sites
Dyke and field systems with bronze age bowl, disc and bell barrows (scheduled monuments) near Blagdon Farm, around Black Down and below the Big Wood area.
Round barrows in field above and north of the Church
(RC 03/2018)
Round barrows near the west side parish boundary.
(photograph RC)
< The Valley of the Stones in the neighbouring Portesham parish. (photograph RC)
An extensive natural sarsen field. The freeze / thaw cycles during the Ice Age caused the sandstone on top of the chalk hilltops to fracture and slump downhill forming the sarsen boulders. There are many in the area including in Portesham village itself.
< Polissoir stone in the Valley of Stones : The highly polished stone was used during the Neolithic period to polish / sharpen stone axes and tools. It is a rare find as many were small and portable - this one is "earthfast" (ie it has not moved and was found and used in-stu). This was discovered during an archaeological survey of the valley by Past Participate CC during 2022. (Source : DNHAS magazine Winter 2023)
There are three sarcen stones in Winterbourne Steepleton village : One outside Boxenhedge Farm; one on the bankside near Alder House and a further one adjoining the boundary wall near Champ's Cottage.
Above : A cromlech which was probably once part of a chambered barrow can be found on the hillside to the rear of Coombe Farm (OS ref 614 897) (private property). There a couple of stones, the largest measuring some 2.4m x 1.5m. In 1872, local historian Mr Warne described it as being “a confused heap covered in nettles”. Link for further details : https://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3222/winterbourne_steepleton_cromlech.html
For Roman, Saxon and Medieval features please refer to the Village Name and early History
Links to Historic England aerial photographs :
https://historicengland.org.uk/sitesearch?searchType=site&search=winterbourne+steepleton&page=1
Tumuli to north of Church : https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/record/23792_009