FEATURE. Dorset County

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Ancient Dorset

I understand that not everyone may appreciate or grasp the profound nature of being able to read an ancient landscape or view a vast geological timeline in the manner and fashion I choose to view our world but large tracts of West Dorset, (almost uniquely, I'd claim), represent a, virtually, untouched natural environment where evidence of earth's early formation, (and records of early man's prehistoric Hunter - Gatherer past), are still written large in the landscape.

And I promise you, once you begin to examine and appreciate Dorset's unique and spectacular landscapes, geology and ancient history, it is as if you have been given a real life time machine!

I mean; just imagine bending down on one knee in the rich black mineralised soil of a deep ploughed furrow somewhere out in the middle of nowhere ... and to then find, retrieve and hold a near 2000 year old Roman bronze coin that has not felt a human gaze placed upon it since the time of Jesus!

Anyway ... with just a little guidance from myself via these pages, I hope to use this section of the website to highlight ancient wonders of West Dorset; wonders that represent treasures that lie hidden in plain sight just beyond or beneath the surface veneer of the spectacular landscapes and visions that Dorset gifts us.

All that said; actually experiencing such a profound phenomenon does involve a certain suspension of belief in as much as we need to detach ourselves from our hectic 21st century view of the world.

Once achieved though, we will enter a mindset where we can begin to connect the corners and edge pieces of an old and ancient puzzle together and begin to see the bigger picture.

So lets start that process now ...

My Anglo Romano villa

Just a mile from home, atop a promontory overlooking the breath-taking Lyme Bay coastline, I can step back into an ancient landscape and pluck 2000 year old coins from the rich black mineralised ploughed soil.

I’ll not share the name of the site or the immediate location but will say that my ancient site is one of several Anglo-Romano settlements scattered across the South West of England.

Anglo-Roman settlements refer to communities that were established in Britain during the period of Roman rule, which lasted from 43 AD to around 410 AD. These settlements were often located near Roman military outposts or along major transportation routes, and were home to a mix of Roman soldiers and civilians, as well as indigenous Britons. The Romans established a number of towns and cities in Britain, and many of these settlements continue to be important centres of population and commerce today.

From coinage, artefacts and the reading of the landscape, I can say that my site has been active for several thousand years and, certainly, occupied continuously through 4 centuries of Roman rule.

You can smell the history at one of my favourite archaeological haunts.

The site, an unclassified Anglo-Romano dwelling, is just a 15 minute hike from home.

Medieval Dorset

In 1199, King John became King of England, Duke of Normandy (in France), Duke of Aquitaine (in France), Count of Anjou (in France), and Lord of Ireland.

He inherited England and most of western France where he was more influencial and powerful than the King of France himself.

And guess where he first planned and then built himself a "hunting lodge", creating a typical motte and bailey castle structure down at the southern end of his kingdom?

The answer?

Powerstock

Many motte and bailey castles, including those built during the reign of King John, were initially constructed from wood, with stone later being used to replace or strengthen parts of the structure. However, there can be little doubt that the remains of the castle at Powerstock clearly indicate that this castle was more likely to have been a classic and highly intimidating fairy tale like structure as indicated below.