Monument record MDO1641 - Medieval farmstead, Kitty's Farm, Marshwood

Earthworks of a possible medieval settlement or farmstead are visible on aerial photographs and lidar imagery in fields to the north of Kitty's Farm. The earthworks comprise a group of rectangular platforms and enclosures with associated hollows. The features were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP.

Centred SY 41959834 Visible on APs CPE/UK/2413-4214. A small area within a pasture field which presents evidence of
depopulation. There are three distinct low platforms, which average 18.0m x 12.0m, and 0.3m high. From these, hollow-ways spread to the NW for some 150 yds. These sunken tracks average 6.0m wide and are from 0.2m to 1.0m deep.

The remains probably represent an old farmstead, but whether of Md or later date could not be determined by ground inspection, and no surface finds were made. The local farmer was contacted, but apart from supplying the field name 'Cowleaze' he could offer no explanation of the earthworks.

An orchard at the W extremity of the area still contains a few decayed fruit trees with an enclosing hedge. It is unusual for
a small orchard to lie so far from a habitation, and this particular one may indicate a fairly late date for the desertion of the farmstead. (Nothing shown on OS 1" 1809). <1>

Earthworks of a possible Medieval settlement or farmstead are visible on aerial photographs and lidar imagery <3-4> in fields to the north of Kitty's Farm. The earthworks comprise a group of rectangular platforms and enclosures with associated hollows. Narrow ridge and furrow of possible medieval or post medieval date lies to the west of the main settlement complex within the associated field boundaries. The features were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP.

<1> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 02-NOV-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/088 RCHME Inventory: Dorset I (West) and Revision (Unpublished document). SDO17367.

<3> Environment Agency, 2010, Lidar DTM, sy4198_dsm_1m.asc (Aerial Photograph). SDO13148.

<4> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RS 4213-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO14601.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450012 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 14 2022 12:14PM