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Knowlton in LiDAR

Knowlton is a Neolithic henge in Dorset. Here it is in the Environment Agency's 1 m LiDAR, shaded so the shape of the ground stands out. Look for an oval bank-and-ditch ring about 106m by 94m around the church, a large round mound to its north-east, and traces of the much larger southern henge, which is crossed by a road and partly built over.

What you can see

• The best-preserved henge, the Central Circle, is an oval 106m by 94m, with a ditch 10m wide inside banks up to 1.75m high. (Historic England)
• A Norman church stands inside the Central Circle; it was abandoned in the mid-17th century when its roof collapsed. (Historic England)
• The Great Barrow, north-east of the Central Circle, is the largest mound on the site at 40m across and about 3m high. (Historic England)
• The southern enclosure, the largest henge in the group, is roughly circular and about 250m across. (Historic England)

Visiting

English Heritage says entry is free and it is open any reasonable time during daylight hours, through a gate off Lumber Lane. (English Heritage)

Official record: Historic England list entry 1020580: Group of henge monuments, an associated group of round barrows, a Saxon cemetery, and a Norman church at Knowlton.

Look, don't detect or dig

Knowlton is a Scheduled Monument, protected by law because it's of national importance. In England it's a criminal offence to use a metal detector on a Scheduled Monument without Historic England's written consent, and to remove any object of archaeological or historical interest found with one. Damaging a scheduled monument is an offence too, and works on one, including digging, need Scheduled Monument Consent first. More on Scheduled Monuments and the rules.

Keep to paths and open access land, and follow the Countryside Code.

More sites in LiDAR

Oakley Down · Badbury Rings · Hod Hill · Hambledon Hill · all sites