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The Bokerley Line is a linear earthwork consisting of a substantial bank and ditch that runs across the chalk downland north of West Woodyates Manor in Dorset. Dating to the late Roman period, likely the third or fourth century AD, the monument represents a defensive boundary constructed to control movement across the landscape, possibly marking a territorial frontier or administrative division during the later stages of Roman Britain. The earthwork survives as a prominent archaeological feature running for several miles across the Cranborne Chase area, with variations in its physical form reflecting different construction phases and terrain. Excavation and survey have established that the Bokerley Line formed part of a broader system of linear boundaries characteristic of the late Roman period in southern Britain.
Two sections of a linear earthwork north of West Woodyates Manor: part of the `Bokerley Line' is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1012136. View the official record →
The Bokerley Line is a linear earthwork consisting of a substantial bank and ditch that runs across the chalk downland north of West Woodyates Manor in Dorset. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1012136.
Two sections of a linear earthwork north of West Woodyates Manor: part of the `Bokerley Line' is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1012136.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Barrows N of St Giles Park (7.8 km), Barrows in and near St Giles Park (8.1 km), Medieval settlement at Brockington, immediately north east of Brockington Farm (9.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Two sections of a linear earthwork north of West Woodyates Manor: part of the `Bokerley Line''s history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Two sections of a linear earthwork north of West Woodyates Manor: part of the `Bokerley Line' stands on White Chalk Subgroup, bedrock that formed in the Maastrichtian. The rock here is chalk.