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Windmill Barrow

Heritage Site in Dorset

England

Windmill Barrow

The eastern end of Charborough Park wall The famous wall of the deer park, beside the A31, one of the longest brick walls in England
The eastern end of Charborough Park wall Credit: David Smith

Windmill Barrow is a significant heritage site located in Dorset, England. It is an ancient burial mound that dates back to the Neolithic period, approximately 5,000 years ago. The site is situated on a hilltop, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The barrow consists of a circular mound, with a diameter of about 30 meters and a height of 2 meters. It is constructed using earth and small stones, giving it a distinct appearance. The site gets its name from a nearby windmill that was built in the 19th century but has since been demolished.

Excavations carried out in the 19th century revealed the presence of a burial chamber within the mound. The chamber contained human remains and various artifacts, such as pottery and flint tools. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the burial practices and lifestyles of the ancient inhabitants of the area.

Windmill Barrow is a protected heritage site under the care of English Heritage. It is open to the public, allowing visitors to explore and appreciate its historical significance. Interpretive panels provide detailed information about the site's history and archaeological findings. Additionally, the site offers breathtaking views of the Dorset countryside, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

As a testament to its historical and cultural importance, Windmill Barrow has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, ensuring its preservation for future generations.

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Windmill Barrow Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.777/-2.092 or Grid Reference SY9397. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The eastern end of Charborough Park wall The famous wall of the deer park, beside the A31, one of the longest brick walls in England
The eastern end of Charborough Park wall
The famous wall of the deer park, beside the A31, one of the longest brick walls in England
Roundabout on the A31, Sturminster Marshall
Roundabout on the A31, Sturminster Marshall
Woodland by the A31, Sturminster Marshall
Woodland by the A31, Sturminster Marshall
Old Boundary Marker by the A31, Poole Road, Sturminster Marshall parish Turnpike Terminus Marker by the A350, in parish of Sturminster Marshall (East Dorset District), 500m south of Sturminster Marshall, centre of the roundabout where the A350 crosses the A31. Inscription reads:- : POOLE / TRUST : : BLAND- / -FORD / TRUST : Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: DO_POBF06t
Old Boundary Marker by the A31, Poole Road, Sturminster Marshall parish
Turnpike Terminus Marker by the A350, in parish of Sturminster Marshall (East Dorset District), 500m south of Sturminster Marshall, centre of the roundabout where the A350 crosses the A31. Inscription reads:- : POOLE / TRUST : : BLAND- / -FORD / TRUST : Surveyed Milestone Society National ID: DO_POBF06t
Richard Drax's Opium Poppy Fields This is part of millionaire MP Richard Drax's estate just south of his palatial home Charborough Park. The poppies are grown to produce morphine. A lot of his wealth was gained through his ancestors running slave plantations in Jamaica and Barbados and he still owns the Barbados plantation. This was photographed from East Morden Drove.
Richard Drax's Opium Poppy Fields
This is part of millionaire MP Richard Drax's estate just south of his palatial home Charborough Park. The poppies are grown to produce morphine. A lot of his wealth was gained through his ancestors running slave plantations in Jamaica and Barbados and he still owns the Barbados plantation. This was photographed from East Morden Drove.
Anti Slavery Protest at Richard Drax's Estate This was taken at Boar Hill Lodge, one of the gateways into Charborough Park the home of millionaire MP Richard Drax. The police van and police were preventing the protestors from going further than the gate. Much of Richard Drax's wealth was obtained through his ancestors running slave plantations in Jamaica and Barbados.
Anti Slavery Protest at Richard Drax's Estate
This was taken at Boar Hill Lodge, one of the gateways into Charborough Park the home of millionaire MP Richard Drax. The police van and police were preventing the protestors from going further than the gate. Much of Richard Drax's wealth was obtained through his ancestors running slave plantations in Jamaica and Barbados.
Minor road near Almer The minor road passes the entrance to the Drax estate. There is an Ordnance Survey bench mark on the wall angle nearest the camera.
Minor road near Almer
The minor road passes the entrance to the Drax estate. There is an Ordnance Survey bench mark on the wall angle nearest the camera.
Bench Mark, East Morden The bench mark is on the south west angle of the wall. For a wider view of the wall <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2306373">SY9197 : Minor road near Almer</a> and for further information on the bench mark and others in the area <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm37280" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm37280">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> A bench mark is an Ordnance Survey arrowhead sign found on walls, bridges, churches and specially erected triangulation pillars where the altitude above sea-level has been accurately measured by surveyors. The arrowhead points to a horizontal line above it which marks the exact altitude.
Bench Mark, East Morden
The bench mark is on the south west angle of the wall. For a wider view of the wall SY9197 : Minor road near Almer and for further information on the bench mark and others in the area LinkExternal link A bench mark is an Ordnance Survey arrowhead sign found on walls, bridges, churches and specially erected triangulation pillars where the altitude above sea-level has been accurately measured by surveyors. The arrowhead points to a horizontal line above it which marks the exact altitude.
Stile and footpath, Lytchett Matravers The footpath is part of the 13 mile, Wareham Forest Way.
Stile and footpath, Lytchett Matravers
The footpath is part of the 13 mile, Wareham Forest Way.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Lytchett Matravers The church has its origins in the 13th century with restoration taking place in circa 1875. It is built of ironstone rubble.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Lytchett Matravers
The church has its origins in the 13th century with restoration taking place in circa 1875. It is built of ironstone rubble.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Lytchett Matravers The tower is the oldest part of the church dating from the 13th century. The remainder of the church was built circa 1500.
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Lytchett Matravers
The tower is the oldest part of the church dating from the 13th century. The remainder of the church was built circa 1500.
Footpath, Lytchett Matravers The footpath takes walkers from the Church of St Mary the Virgin towards Peatons Farms and the main of the village.
Footpath, Lytchett Matravers
The footpath takes walkers from the Church of St Mary the Virgin towards Peatons Farms and the main of the village.
Lichen, The Church of St Mary the Virgin The older gravestones are covered in lichen. Lichens do not have roots, but absorb water and gases through their upper surface, and are therefore sensitive to atmospheric pollution. For this reason they are rarely found around cities and grow best on the wetter west side of the British Isles. Those on trees thrive best on the sunny, south-west aspects of trunks and branches. Disappearance of lichen species can be used to detect rising levels of air pollution. There are three main types. The encrusting forms, including the bright orange/dark yellow 'Xanthoria' grow on roofs, walls, gravestones, signs and tree trunks. Leaf-like species develop flat lobes spreading over bark or stones, and shrubby forms which grow vertically from the ground or hang from trees. Few have common names.
Lichen, The Church of St Mary the Virgin
The older gravestones are covered in lichen. Lichens do not have roots, but absorb water and gases through their upper surface, and are therefore sensitive to atmospheric pollution. For this reason they are rarely found around cities and grow best on the wetter west side of the British Isles. Those on trees thrive best on the sunny, south-west aspects of trunks and branches. Disappearance of lichen species can be used to detect rising levels of air pollution. There are three main types. The encrusting forms, including the bright orange/dark yellow 'Xanthoria' grow on roofs, walls, gravestones, signs and tree trunks. Leaf-like species develop flat lobes spreading over bark or stones, and shrubby forms which grow vertically from the ground or hang from trees. Few have common names.
Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans), Lytchett Matravers This flower is originally from Africa. It is now naturalised and belongs to the Coltsfoot/Butterbur family. Found on the edge of the churchyard.
Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans), Lytchett Matravers
This flower is originally from Africa. It is now naturalised and belongs to the Coltsfoot/Butterbur family. Found on the edge of the churchyard.
Yew Tree, St Mary's Churchyard The ancient tradition that this evergreen sheltered the first Christian missionaries to Britain before their churches were built is one of the many explanations put forward to account for the large numbers of yews found in country churchyards. The yew is also a life symbol, and was sometimes scattered on graves. The longbows of medieval archers came from straight, knot-free lengths cut from tall, selected trees. But these were unlikely to be churchyard yews – the best bow staves were imported from Spain.
Yew Tree, St Mary's Churchyard
The ancient tradition that this evergreen sheltered the first Christian missionaries to Britain before their churches were built is one of the many explanations put forward to account for the large numbers of yews found in country churchyards. The yew is also a life symbol, and was sometimes scattered on graves. The longbows of medieval archers came from straight, knot-free lengths cut from tall, selected trees. But these were unlikely to be churchyard yews – the best bow staves were imported from Spain.
Yew Tree, St Mary's Churchyard The European yew (Taxus baccata) has a reputation for longevity. Whilst there is no direct evidence to support the view that yew trees were associated with pagan worship it is not hard to imagine that they were. The yew, a tree symbolising longevity, death and rebirth, became woven into folklore and its association with churchyards may simply be that in certain circumstances its foliage and fruit can be poisonous and in medieval England churchyards were one of the few places fenced against stock.
Yew Tree, St Mary's Churchyard
The European yew (Taxus baccata) has a reputation for longevity. Whilst there is no direct evidence to support the view that yew trees were associated with pagan worship it is not hard to imagine that they were. The yew, a tree symbolising longevity, death and rebirth, became woven into folklore and its association with churchyards may simply be that in certain circumstances its foliage and fruit can be poisonous and in medieval England churchyards were one of the few places fenced against stock.
Woodland near Sturminster Marshall View from close to the junction of the A31 and Dullars Lane. The A31 is on the right behind the hedge. The woods on the right are Lion Lodge Woods (named after Lion Gate on the Drax estate) and those on the left, Warren's plantation.
Woodland near Sturminster Marshall
View from close to the junction of the A31 and Dullars Lane. The A31 is on the right behind the hedge. The woods on the right are Lion Lodge Woods (named after Lion Gate on the Drax estate) and those on the left, Warren's plantation.
Lion Gate The Lion Gate stands next to Lion Lodge on the edge of Charborough park. Home to the Drax family for generations. The drive leads from the A31 to Charborough House.
Lion Gate
The Lion Gate stands next to Lion Lodge on the edge of Charborough park. Home to the Drax family for generations. The drive leads from the A31 to Charborough House.
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Windmill Barrow is located at Grid Ref: SY9397 (Lat: 50.777, Lng: -2.092)

Unitary Authority: Dorset

Police Authority: Dorset

What 3 Words

///handsets.started.rash. Near Lytchett Matravers, Dorset

Nearby Locations

Windmill Barrow Brock Hill

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St Mary the Virgin, Lytchett Matravers

St Mary the Virgin is the Church of England parish church of Lytchett Matravers in Dorset. Its parish is part of the Diocese of Salisbury. The building...

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 50.777,-2.092
Power: pole
Source: bing
Transformer: distribution
Lat/Long: 50.7792848/-2.0900846
OpenStreetMap
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Power: pole
Source: bing
Lat/Long: 50.7790966/-2.0871435
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Source: bing
Lat/Long: 50.7782536/-2.0858239
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Source: bing
Lat/Long: 50.7786751/-2.0871127
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Power: pole
Source: bing
Lat/Long: 50.7785462/-2.0883358
OpenStreetMap
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Material: wood
Power: pole
Ref: 54901288
Source: survey
Source Ref: survey
Lat/Long: 50.7784228/-2.0894811
OpenStreetMap
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The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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