40 SURVEYS OF VALLEY ENTRENCHMENTS. 



Fig. 1. 



THE CRATE MEADOW ENTRENCHMENT, THOBNCOMBE 

 BOTTOM, PIDDLETRENTHIDE. 



In the enclosures of type A. the ditch and rampart are 

 wholly confined to the sides of the surrounding hill, except 

 where the entrenchment at its lowest point crosses the valley, 

 and the space enclosed thus consists entirely of the valley 

 head. 



From Figure 1 it will be gathered that the Crate Meadow 

 entrenchment strictly accords with the above type. It is 

 situated between the 500 and 600ft. contours at the head of a 

 shallow coombe tributary to Thorncombe Bottom. This 

 coombe, formed by a broad groove in the gently sloping hill- 

 side, is enclosed by hedges, and the field containing the en- 

 trenchment is " marked Croft Meadow on the farm map, 

 although commonly called Crate by the villagers and 

 labourers." (11) 



The entrenchment is more regular in outline than the 

 North-east Dorset examples, but the ditch and vallum are 

 of about the same relief as the Beltout and other Sussex 

 valley entrenchments. The north side is the most pronounced. 

 Originally there appears to have been only one entrance, i.e., 

 that in the west side. The continuation of the ditch opposite 

 the present gap (" a " on plan) in the west side, obviously 

 marks this opening as of later date than the earthwork. 

 The stall-shaped excavation (" b " on plan) adjoining the 

 south rampart, and the filled -in trench (" c " on plan) 

 running towards this depression and into the ditch, also appear 

 to be later than the original construction. 



An interesting feature in connection with this entrench- 

 ment is the reduced ancient cultivation balk (" d " on plan) 

 adjoining the south-east angle. At this point the ditch 



11. This information was kindly given by Mr. J. P. Homer, of 

 Piddle trenthide . 



