Monument record MDO1745 - Lynchets north west of Nether Compton village

Six terraces recorded by Royal Commission. Strong strip lynchets along west facing slope northwest of Nether Compton are visible on 2022 Composite DTM lidar imagery. To the west along the foot of the slope, and extending westwards to the edges of the present-day gardens, are areas of ridge and furrow cultivation and possible strip field boundaries, also visible as earthworks on lidar imagery.

Lynchets, on a north-west slope about 1/2 a mile north-east of the church (ST 59831724). There are six terraces. <2>

In the orchard there are a series of parallel but weak strip lynchets and in the field to the north-east there are only weak and vague traces of strip lynchets. In the field to the south-east there are two strong and parallel strip lynchets set on a steep hillside. <3>

On the west facing scarp, east of the village (of Nether Compton) there are several discontinuous strip lynchets extending over 1300 yds. At the foot of the slope there are vestiges of broad rig and furrow enclosures under plough and pasture, including 6 short strip lynchets. <4>

The only well defined lynchets noted in this area, were a series of low pasture covered lynchets up to 1.5m high centred at ST 60191780. Vestigial traces of lyncheting occur over the whole area, as described by authorities <3> and <4>. <5>

Strong strip lynchets along west facing slope northwest of Nether Compton are visible on 2022 Composite DTM lidar imagery. To the west along the foot of the slope, and extending westwards to the edges of the present-day gardens, are areas of ridge and furrow cultivation and possible strip field boundaries, also visible as earthworks on lidar imagery <7>.

Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 2140-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17481.

<1> Bean, C E, Annotated record map Corr 6", May 1954 (Map). SDO16337.

(Centred at ST 60401800) Lynchets

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 102 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(15) LYNCHETS, on a N.W. slope about ½m. N.E. of the church. There are six terraces.'

<3> Rigg, J, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments JR, F1 JR 06-JUL-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, RCHM Ms File (unpublished revision of Dorset 1), No 16 24.9.6 (Unpublished document). SDO17382.

<5> Barrett, G, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments GB, F2 GB 18-AUG-77 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<6> Historic England, National Record of the Historic Environment, 199393 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<7> Environment Agency, 2022, LiDAR Composite Viewer - Digital Terrain Model 1m (Aerial Photograph). SDO21777.

Record last edited

Jul 24 2026 3:14PM