The Archaeological Record

The area around Dumbleton appears to have been inhabited for a very long time.   Evidence of this has been gained from aerial photographs, finds made by individual people, and artifacts uncovered during the construction of the Esso Midline pipeline in 1985, and more recently development of Golden Hay Field 2023+. An initial survery of the field led to the condition to perform a complete survey before building works begin. At the time of writing this is expected in 2026.

 

A fragment of a Neolithic polished flint axe was found in a field to the east of the village during the construction of the pipeline and a number of worked flints, including a transverse arrowhead, have also been recovered.

 

A number of Roman finds have also been made.  Romano-British pottery has been found near Lane Farm, Leyfield Farm and Dumbleton Mill and a Roman coin was found at Hill Farm.

The presence of a Romano-British settlement has been established to the east of the village.   This site seems to be on the line of the Salt Way which ran south to Lechlade, via Hayles, and north via Ashton-under-Hill to Droitwich.   The Salt Way was originally thought to have passed to the west of Dumbleton Hill but this evidence indicates that it almost certainly ran to the east of the hill.

 

A moated site survives near Banks Farm and is indicated on a Dumbleton Hall Estate Sale Map, dated 1875, by such field names as "The Moat" and "Moat Orchard".

 

Medieval pottery has been found near Leyfield Farm, Cullabine Farm and Dumbleton Mill.   The mill, millpond, weir and mill leat are all probably medieval.

 

The Church, the site of the original Dumbleton Hall, the roads, the old rectory and the fishpond to the west of the cricket ground all indicate that this area is the oldest part of the village.

 

Associated with Dumbleton is the "lost" village of Littleton.   Accounts of the obedientars of Abingdon Abbey (1433-1434) refer to "..... the mill of Lyttleton in default of rent ...... and wholly decayed".   A loop in the River Isbourne indicates its possible position.   Roman sherds and pottery dated to the mid 13th century have been found.   A human skull has also been recovered in the same area.   The 1875 Dumbleton Hall Estate Sale Map shows fields with names such as "Littleton Green" and "Near Littleton"

 

Acknowledgement:  The information on this page is based upon data kindly provided by Gloucestershire County Council Environment Department