More information : (Centred SY 735920) Rainbarrows (Tumuli) (NR) three
shown. (1)
Three barrows (25-27), 'Rainbarrows', lie on Duddle Heath at
just over 300ft OD near the S end of a ridge overlooking the
valley of the R Frome.
'A' - (25) Bowl (73469212), has been much damaged by a large
hole dug into the centre and by a boundary bank which crosses
the E side of the mound. Part of the E side has been cut away
to make a ride at the edge of a plantation. Diam 75ft ht
7 1/2ft Traces of ditch.
'B' - (26) Bowl (75359206), 100 yds SE of (25) is overgrown
with bracken and scattered conifers. Diam 69ft ht 6ft. Traces
of ditch.
'C' - (27) Bowl (73549202), 50 yds SSE of (26), is damaged by a
wartime observation post on the S and by a large hole dug into
the centre. Diam 83ft ht 8ft. Traces of ditch.
The most northerly of the 'Rainbarrows' (25) is almost
certainly the one which was opened by Cunnington (Cunnington MS
No 27; Dorset Procs XXXVII (1916), 43); a cremation lay 8 ft
down, under a central cairn 12ft in diameter and 4ft high. Two
(? three) bucket urns containing cremations from the
'Rainbarrows' are in DCM (Dorset Procs XXIX (1908), 136; Ant J
XIII (1933), 446; Arch J CXIX (1962), 65). (2-3)
'A' SY 73469205. Bowl barrow, diameter 23.0m., height 2.7m.,
crossed by a hedge bank. Ditch 3.0m. wide and 0.3m. deep
visible except on north side of hedgebank.
'B' SY 7352905. Bowl barrow, diameter 23.5m. height 2.2m. Ditch
3.0m. wide and 0.4m. deep visible on all sides.
'C' SY 73539201. Bowl barrow, diameter 27.0m., height 2.6m.,
with a hollowed centre 8.0m. diameter. Ditch 3.0m. wide and
0.3m. deep visible on the north-eastern half of the barrow.
All barrows are covered with dense bushes and undergrowth.
Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (4)
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