Dorset's Lost Dungeon?

Welcome to a Map Mystery. This week tries to address something that has been bothering me for some time. What exactly at those shafts for! Follow us in our journey as we try and uncover their purpose. How long have they been there for and ARE they the lost dungeons of Dorset??
Credits:
Maps: OS Map - Crown Copyright 2022. Used with Media License.
Music: Epidemicsound.com - Paid license
Picture: Mike Rowland - Archway within Iron Age Hill Fort
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[@robertmaitland09]

If you look really closely down the shaft you can just make out Martin and James enjoying a brew.

[@01cthompson]

🤣🤣🤣

[@alan-jt7ts]

The two air shafts are above a water tank which was fed by a ram pump in a field south west of the tank and roughly south of the bend in Park Lane, still the remains of the brick shed the pump was in hidden in the brambles at the spring head. the tank fed the whole estate with water. The two arches in the hillfort are supposedly the route the Holford family used to travel to Glanvilles Wooton church from Duntish Court, there is a track on the South side of Great Wooton wood which is also part of the route

[@Randomstuffs261]

That was genuinely fascinating, I reckon you two are going to be some of the UK's best traveled explorers at some point.

[@AndyBsUTube]

Interesting. I too saw these air-shafts on a map about 10 years ago and walked the site. My understanding from a local was that the hill fort (Iron age) was used to hold French prisoners during the Napoleonic period - hence the name Dungeon Hill. The brick arch which is cut into the fort circumference (and was ascribed to the landowner in the video) may have been part of this - and would likely have been the main gate whilst it was a prison camp. The shafts are very interesting - especially the one that has a metal cover suggesting man access - never did get round to going back there with the right kit to rig it, ascend and descend safely. There's a comment below about the geology with the same point as I would make. I live in Surrey at the bottom of the chalk North Downs. Plenty of water down here - below the spring lines. Note the springs on the maps around the hill. However - for those on the chalk water is only accessible below them - chalk is very porous. The Upper Greensand below (and the base layer of the chalk itself) are non-porous so the lower chalk is an aquifer. The map shown in the last few minutes of vid is intriguing - not sure what the other marked points are - or if this map is recorded fact from an archive, exploration or conjecture? However - we do have some local features here in Surrey which have certain things in common with this. If I had to bet I'd say that somewhere near those shafts - possibly in the patch of rough ground was an engine house - to pump the water up the well from the catchment below. Two shafts - one for the pump rods - the other for man-access. There may well be short headings from the bottom to increase the collection area/volume. Once pumped to the surface the water can easily be piped to any home in the area that is below that level - pretty much everywhere round there. In the late 19thC such local water schemes were starting to appear - early water companies supplying water on a larger scale to distinct catchment areas where water is unavailable from springs and has to be drilled for in small wells or boreholes. Or it may have been just one local landowner's private supply - or even agricultural.

[@Hairnicks]

Love a map mystery, that was so interesting. The metal cover might have secured access into whatever was below. Send Martin Zero down it, he loves that stuff!

[@pwhitewick]

He'd be VERY welcome

[@lesliejpringle5545]

@@pwhitewick yes!! you cant leave this one like this!! Got to get someone down one of them!!

[@brianartillery]

It's your equivalent of Martin's 'Trapdoor In The Canal' - the 'Manhole In The Vent Column'.

[@darrenharley6150]

Content better than a lot of tv channels. Can’t wait until next Instalment. My sort of channel 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Darren

[@elliottjames8020]

Basic geology of Chalk Downland - chalk is porous, the spring line is found when the chalk layer meets the Greensand (a form of Sandstone). Water is stopped going down by the Greensand and forms the springline. As a Wiltshireman, those shafts are well above the Greensand layer just from looking at the landscape.

[@GryphLane]

"Did you just emphasise shaft?" I tittered

[@christophermatthews6972]

They say this guy Paul is a bad mother(shut your mouth).

[@AlexanderWright1]

There appeared to be a manhole at the base of one of the shafts. I'd have been very tempted to lift the lid...

[@chiaratiara2575]

There might have been a ladder going down!

[@samsamington6107]

Me too, I'd have to look!

[@nilo70]

You could have released a terrible monster too Alexander. An Evil that has been Waiting Since the dawn of Time !

[@thebrowns5337]

Yes. Small crowbar or manhole keys needed at all times. Not to go in - confined spaces are best avoided unless you have all the right kit, but to get a better view. Drop a camera down on a line, all that sort of stuff.

[@alexcharlesworth7580]

Oi live in that area. Trust oi. Ya don't wanna be liftin that therrre lid young'un. You'll unerrth tha beast of Darzet. 🤣

[@kitkatv3]

Love the presentation, subject and smile inducing cuts. Great work. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@sus8e462]

Not only great sites & analysis, but fun presentation/editing. Really enjoying your work! Thank you!

[@davidwilkinson333]

Another great vid guys and right on my old doorstep too. I often wondered about those shafts, but never got around to checking them out. Back then the old boy who owned the land wasn't keen on anyone giing on it. A bit of a dig in the local achives a good few years back when I lived in Glanvilles Wootton, I found a reference to the Dorset Antiquerian Society doing a buit of exploratory digging circa 1890s. All they found, as I recall, was some Roman military personal equipment - helmets, some bits of armour and a few coins, I think, in the vicinity of the entrance. Keep up the great work and nice to see Rebecca make a 'guest appearance' 😁

[@alexcharlesworth7580]

I found this utterly fascinating as this is the area I was bought up. Still only live 10 miles away. As a nipper I lived a couple of miles away just over the hill in Minterne Magna. A good childhood friend of mine actually lived at Duntish Farm as I would cycle over there on Saturday's and ride his old motorbike round his farm. Happy days😄. We found the old grotto. Still surprisingly complete though that was probably nearly 30yrs ago😱. Never found those airshafts though. Probably luckily as we'd have been up there with our spades trying to dig our way in 🤣. The old stable block for the Dungeon Hill estate is still there as I worked on the buildings a few years ago when it was being converted. Fascinating area....

[@nilo70]

Thank you both for making this wonderful episode ! I loved the way you produced it, very nice 👍

[@gaugeonesteam]

Did you know, there's a little place just south of there called "PLUSH BOTTOM" I delivered a piano there a few years ago. Pub there called "Brace of Pheasants" That part of Dorset is very beautiful and I reckon there are more mysteries there waiting to be discovered. As others have said, you two have a great presenting style. I always look forward to your next adventures.... PS: Brick bonds are interesting. London bond, Dutch bond, Flemish bond, stack bond, even English garden wall bond. I think that's header, stretcher, header, header, header, stretcher, stretcher, stretcher, then header, stretcher again. Anyway, great stuff as always.

[@andiecurtis3511]

Life is chaotic these days, your videos just calm me down. Thank you so much. They appeal to my reading of OS maps as a form of relaxation, they really fire my imagination. Your gentle humour is lovely. I used to explore the countryside in my younger years looking for features and wondering what their history was. Thank you!

[@graemer3657]

Brilliant, educational, but also entertaining video, Thanks !

[@simonbradshaw3708]

Another interesting video, maybe worth contacting the local water company and the farmer to see if they can confirm your thoughts? It will be interesting if you manage to solve the mystery. I look forward to the next video.

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Love the editing. Happy to see this particular make a return. Although I wouldn't necessarily have it very often. Maybe about once a month or so. Also really love your photographs. Great quality!

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Also: Good looking in waistcoat, Paul :D

[@Richard_Barnes]

Very interesting you pair 🙂👍🏻 enjoyed the chat about this one. Thanks. 🍻

[@brettpalfrey4665]

Fascinating as always..you make my Sunday evenings worth looking forward to!

[@simonf8370]

Wow, another interesting exploration. And nice tight editing. And I'm sure Rebecca did emphasise shaft....

[@marccarter1350]

Love this channel, even better as i live in Salisbury :-)

[@davie941]

this was great again paul and rebecca , as always very interesting , well done and thank you guys 😊

[@mwolfer1]

Very snappy format, certainly gets your attention. Thanks for playing around with the format! Keep on truckin'

[@allenatkins2263]

An enigma, wrapped in a mystery and pushed down a shaft.

[@radiosnail]

Love your videos. still very fond of a paper O/s map too.

[@watchmakersp9935]

Loved the video..and music..thanks to you both!!!

[@mikeakhurst1855]

Glad you seem to have such fun editing your adventures 😂

[@soundhobo]

A good explore of that copse and the manhole 🕳 cover are a must. Great content 👍

[@pauldevey8628]

Great narrative. You two work so hard for us. Thank you. The beginning of the video shows how nice the two of you look when not trekking across hill and dale. Thanks for Everything.

[@derekr1113]

Great content and brilliantly produced.

[@paulinehedges5088]

Really fascinating. Thank you for this Sunday evening's entertainment. Keep it coming!

[@andyhill242]

There are more questions than answers... The more we find out the less we know... You could have done with Martin Zero's CoC Rover for those shafts.

[@template16]

Excellently made video. Love the mystery

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Interesting bit of research there, that's why I love mine exploring :)

[@mrlister2000]

You fancy going down that one?

[@dianespears6057]

That was actually quite interesting. I like how you do so much research and preparation. Thank you both.

[@pwhitewick]

Our pleasure.

[@stuartbridger5177]

I love these short mystery videos, great presenting style.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was incredible. What a mystery, just loved it. Love to see a few more like this. Mind you I love everything you do. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Linda, and thanks for your support.

[@TheFilwud]

Hmmm, I was just waiting for Martin Zero’s head to pop up out of that hole! Interesting vlog!

[@phillunn4691]

That was a very interesting, if curious find. I see what you mean by the strange things you discovered on that estate. Another great video Paul and Rebecca 👍🏼

[@Drivershell53]

something different but excellent. very interesting and enjoyable. Keep up the great work, best wishes to you both,

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

A video about big shafts and dungeons, just what my Sunday night needed…

[@kp_pro]

Love you guys.. keep up the good work :)

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fascinating stuff. You had me transfixed. What were you going to find? That was exciting. Thank you. Most enjoyable. Roll on next one.

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

This is a great video of exploration. Fancy finding the two airshafts, and there was some strange items within those grounds. Many thanks for this production.

[@paull2613]

Brilliant you two thank you

[@1000left]

I just found your channel and I LOVE IT!!!!! Nice work and THANK YOU!!!!

[@pwhitewick]

Welcome.

[@derekblair8561]

Derek Blair I didn't know that my homeland had such mysterious places dating from known and unknown times.

[@edwardlees4585]

With all the innuendo possibilities you really need to do the commentary with a Kenneth Williams accent. Another great video, thanks.

[@Milamberinx]

OooohH

[@robertlewis2]

More Map Mysteries. It was exciting to follow along on Google Maps.

[@phillipbateman2284]

As normal, you two are brilliant. I've been feeling rubbish all day, twenty seconds into your vlog and I'm laughing.. Many thanks, Rebecca and Paul, for subtle sauciness, facts and could be fiction, some lovely scenery and a strenuous hike when I didn't think I could even get out of bed. Take care.

[@pwhitewick]

A complete pleasure

[@Sim0nTrains]

Nice Interesting video and those shafts look straight indeed

[@maryhairy1]

How intriguing. The plot thickens!

[@stevechick6129]

First 3 seconds were spellbinding. What followed was very interesting too. V professional.

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

Fascinating video.

[@mtgcardzandreview2756]

Great video, love the history of the video.

[@jackpayne4658]

As an MR James fan, those shafts are simply waiting for an over-curious investigator - probably an elderly academic of some sort. After various minor setbacks, he will be rewarded by a memorable encounter with something slimy, cobwebby, and very unpleasant.

[@Chris_Carini]

Excellent. More please.

[@MichaelSebastianTodd]

brilliant video

[@davidberlanny3308]

What an interesting discovery. Always enjoy reading the comments on here, great scope for inuendo, especially if you get Martin to go down there with his .. uhmmm ... CoC Rover. Just had a look and those shafts can be clearly seen on google maps. Good luck from Spain!!

[@nigelmattravers5913]

Brilliant, loved it

[@derrickharvey7487]

well done dudes.......fun and factual....all in one.....excellente

[@antonchristian873]

Dear Paul and Rebecca, I just love your brilliant posts, keep up the fabulous work.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

it's interesting that those shafts contain bricks from several different decades, but it means they're being maintained or at least have been for a very long time, which also means there's a good chance whatever they connect to is also in good condition. My guess is that if it's a cistern or other form of water collection point, it will have to be very deep down to work - and in order for water to be able collect in a chamber it must be ventilated, and the faster you need the water to collect, the more air you need to be able to expel. Considering the age of the structure, water is the most likely reason it exists, even if it's no longer used or needed

[@davekirwin]

Hmmm, fascinating Paul! Nice edit cuts BTW.

[@garymason8540]

Brilliant as usual,love to see more of this content aswell as the usual mysterious goings on. There are plenty of weirdness in my home county of Wiltshire i can tell you.🤣. Solved a few over the years.

[@zeb3144]

Fascinating stuff.

[@iangillham9647]

Good one!

[@Canalsman]

Fun production!

[@fishbert17]

Intriguing!

[@Sarge084]

Does the stately pile have any fountains or other water features? The reason I ask is that Witley Court in Worcestershire (Not far from Stourport on Severn where you were recently.) has tunnels, or ducts, feeding its famous fountains, although I have no idea if they have ventilation shafts. Of course the purpose of a ventilation shaft in a small diameter tunnel, or duct, would be to let air in to break a vacuum lock, the opposite of railway tunnel shafts which release pressure!

[@ReubenAshwell]

Brilliant video and very interesting. :)

[@davedave6404]

Wonderful stuff and a great watch. Love the bobbing up and down presentation style and you both looked very scrubbed up too! So, I am wondering if you are going to/have followed up with the water company? It would be great for a short update, this is yet another outstanding Whitewick production, hank you !

[@ianyates3479]

To find out more about the shafts could you lower a light and a camera on a cord. You could see how deep and what might be at the bottom.

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Always a good one guys. Did you not think to lower the gopro down

[@JP-su8bp]

Enjoyable little puzzle.

[@BinkyTheElf1]

New sub. Great stuff!

[@robinhayhurst5943]

Love it. Took 7 minutes to get to the shafts though!

[@howdydeloo2112]

As soon as i can get there,im gonna check it out,only down the

[@petedemaio168]

Surely the land owner would know something. I'm sure other comments have said the same. Another great video, well made. I ❤️ maps!

[@sr6424]

Really loved this video. Hopefully someone will provide the answers and you will do a follow up!

[@pwhitewick]

We even missed the grotto so a good excuse to head back

[@painterman235]

Veeeeery interesting 🤔 More like this if you have time!

[@stephencleaves]

Love these intriguing mysteries and its amazing the shafts have lasted so long! Why not borrow Martin Zero's "rover cam" and see what can be found in the shafts ? Great video 👌

[@devonbikefilms]

That manhole cover might be a big clue, and the small copse looks like it's over a piece of disturbed land. Water system vents seems pretty likely though. Great work as usual.

[@colinmaceachern9]

Another fascinating video. Here's a mystery for you to look at. The Glasgow to Wemyss Bay rail line. On said line at the village of Inverkip there are 2 viaducts one which is still in use the other only the pillars remain , they cross the Daff burn. Further on the line and just past the Inverkip station there are 2 tunnels, one in use the other is not. The line is shown to be originally a single line. The 2 viaducts and tunnels are a strange thing. The station at Wemyss Bay has 3 platforms, possibly 4 at one time. It also had a siding for suppling goods to the ferries that sailed from the pier. My late grandfather was a porter on the station as well as working on a local farm at the same time. I wonder if you could find any further information about the viaduct and the tunnel.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks for this Colin. Will add to the list.

[@KravKernow]

I'm not sure about the double tunnel, but I can offer this as to the double viaduct. Down here in Cornwall we have quite a number of examples of that arrangement. That is to say, a working viaduct next to the pillars of an earlier one. That's a relic of the early days of GWR. To keep down costs, and get the viaducts up as quickly as possible, they were designed with stone pillars but wooden 'fan' supports for the rails themselves. They were a stop gap. As heavier trains became the norm, then they had to construct replacement all stone viaducts. One thing you notice here is that by the time that happened, standard gauge had replaced the original broad gauge. So the newer viaducts are somewhat narrower than the originals. But maybe something like that is going on up by you?

[@bd4_l]

Excellent video 😊

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you very much!

[@lukedavid4393]

Interesting video Rebecca and Paul, there is an air shaft in a field near to Plush village in Dorset - a villager told me it was for water pumping. Like you, I knew there were no railway lines nearby, so was puzzled.

[@isilder]

Air shafts generally not needed for fresh water,.. sewerage lines need air vents..sewerage kept unpressurised so that gravity can cause the flow ..

[@dodgydruid]

Finally a bit of local landscape, quite a lot of history round here and they shot much of Only Fools and Horses episode in and around Child Okeford, Marnhull and a school in Blandford. I keep that spirit alive trundling about the place in my three wheel van hehe so if you saw a dirty yellow three wheeler that would be me ;) I know ppl have done the S&D main run from Bournemouth to Bath to death but there was the old Blandford branch to the Signals camp there which was used when the old racetrack was still in use for public services from the mainline on racedays and no one bothers with that little line same as the Bridport branch which seems somewhat ignored but its still mainly unbuilt on.

[@dodgydruid]

On the map there is Tollard Royal where Madonna and Guy Ritchie lived for a while, Billy Idol lives down near Puddletown whilst Sean Bean lives near Wincanton and is occasionally seen in Wincanton Morrison's but he is a very shy bloke so don''t expect a gushy celeb encounter from Mr B. Yvonne Fletcher came from this area and the bloke who started the Thanksgiving Speech in the US was born here too. Peacemarsh is named for the massive battle between Edmund Ironhand and King Cnut, Cnut was thoroughly drubbed and fled to London with Edmund giving hot pursuit, Cnut moved faster and gained his reserves whilst Edmund's forces were slow and worn out and Cnut destroyed Edmund's army pretty much.

[@philiptownsend4026]

Very interesting. I am a well travelled native of beautiful S England, now emigrated to E Europe (yes!) and missing my homelands. I have also a long interest in industrial landscapes and history so your videos are keeping me in touch. Thank you. PS I am becoming accustomed to your presenting style and video editing...

[@rontanser9369]

Very interesting the mind boggles what they were actually for

[@SpeedLockedNZ]

A weighted measure line for depth would be handy with those vents

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely right.

[@brianartillery]

Very interesting. I love weird anomalies in the landscape like this. It's a sad fact, though, that landowners in the past, often opened up tumuli and hillforts just in case any treasure was to be had, and dug indiscriminately to do so. Often the landowner and his cronies would sit and watch, eating and drinking, whilst 'some little men from the village' did the digging. Anything that wasn't obviously treasure, like pottery shards or bones, would be thrown on to the spoil heap, and later be reburied willy-nilly at the site. To be fair, early archaeologists weren't much better. I read of one William Borlase, who wasn't averse to random diggings at old sites. The underground watercourse is a good theory. I wonder if Southwest Water have any records of them?

[@lemonladyYT]

Now you have all that data and footage you should make a Listing recommendation to Historic England. The 'pillars' look like they've been reparied a few times but it would be good to ensure they're protected for the future. Anyone can do so and I believe it's free. Edit: The Hill Fort is Listed and the record includes info on what Foy found. Three properties to the south are also Listed and their records may be worth checking for any more Foy info. The 'pillars' are not Listed as yet.

[@janecapon2337]

Most intriguing. I would love to know the answer to the shafts.

[@michaelcampin1464]

We have something similar at Tunstall Hills. A disused reservoir under the hill itself.

[@vsvnrg3263]

there might be a need to let air bubbles out of the channel or pipes below. air in pipes disturbs the steady flow of water. some friends were living in a rural house where the water supply came from a tank near the top of a nearby hill. from here the water flowed through a poly pipe down this hill then up a slight rise before flowing downhill to the house. occasionally the water stopped flowing which required someone to go to a tap where the poly pipe stopped rising and started the last downhill run. air bubbles needed to be let out at this point before the water would flow to the house.

[@Alan_Watkin]

miles a way from me this week but cool, love your weekly vids now think you've really found you balance of fact an fun,,,

[@nigelmattravers5913]

The water supply idea looks most likely, Google maps show several streams coming from this area. There is also a clear path to the shafts indicating that perhaps they were regularly visited. Well done Paul & Rebecca

[@neiljenkins2011]

Another great video. I was worried you two were going to get your voices mixed up, with those fast handover shots! 😂 A thought … have you considered returning to drop a camera and light down on a line to see what footage you pick up?