Monument record MDO1818 - Medieval cultivation terraces, Osmington

(Areas centred at A SY 743822, B SY 747822, C SY 755822) Strip Lynchets. <1>

Area A is afforested, areas B and C are under grass. The terraces formed in these areas are not regularly spaced and the drop between each is from 1.0m. to 4.5m. Area B has lynchets upon a very steep slope, suggesting that the terrace was created to some extent before it was cultivated. The less severe slope in area C would allow the terraces to form as a result of ploughing, without any initial construction. All are of Medieval type. <2>

Around SY 74748220 are Medieval contour-type strip lynchets, the natural slope here is so steep that it suggests some preparation of the ground was necessary before first ploughing. (The almost flat treads in the area are notable). Broad 748820. Between SY 757822 to SY 760822 are very fragmentary strip lynchets of contour type ying north and north east of South Down Farm which may have formed part of the open fields of 'Suddon'. <3>

No change. <4>

The system of medieval strip lynchets with traces of cultivation ridges are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and were digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project <7-9>.

<1> RCHM Mss file (Unpublished document). SWX2467.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 17-DEC-54 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 183 (Monograph). SDO148.

'(28) STRIP LYNCHETS and BROAD RIDGE-AND-FURROW (see Fig. p. 187). Remains of strip lynchets cover about 130 acres; some 80 acres appear to be associated with Osmington village (extending up to 4/5 mile away), and 50 acres with Ringstead.

The strips lie on chalk, clay, limestone and sandy subsoils. Most follow the contours but some around 721832 and 733820 run against them, though not directly up-and-down. All except two at about 748821 end in ramps or by running out on to an unploughed area. Breaks probably corresponding with furlong ends are detectable in most groups (as in Winterbourne Steepleton 12). Around 74748220 the natural slope is so steep that it suggests some preparation of the ground was necessary before first ploughing. (The almost flat treads in the area are notable.)

The main groups are at about 721832, 728834 to 732834, 732838, N.W. and N.E. of Osmington; 731822 and 733820, S.E. of Osmington; and 748820 N. of West Ringstead. Lengths vary from 130 yds. to 220 yds., widths of treads from 3 yds. to 50 yds., heights of risers from 1 ft. to 30 ft. Slopes along treads are up to 16° and across them up to 10°.

Broad ridge-and-furrow with ridges about 11 yds. wide and gently curved in plan occurs over about 15 acres near 719834 and with ridges 8 yds. wide around 748820.'

<4> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 22-JUL-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB72/04103 (Index). SDO14738.

STRIP LYNCHETS ASSOCIATED WITH RINGSTEAD DMV TO SOUTH

<7> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4318-9 (Aerial Photograph). SWX8264.

<8> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4443-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11784.

<9> Royal Air Force, 16-JAN-1962, RAF 58/4878 0082-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11780.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454315 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2023 4:54PM