Monument record MDO1926 - Medieval strip lynchets, Kiddle's Bottom, Piddletrenthide

Medieval strip lynchets in the form of earthwork terraces. Part of the medieval open field system of Piddletrenthide. This block of lynchets was part of Middle Field and had been enclosed by 1817. An area of medieval strip lynchets at Kiddle's Bottom are visible as earthworks on Environment Agency lidar imagery and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

On the north side of Kiddle's Bottom, centred at ST 698005, are some 10 acres of contour strip-lynchets. <2>

Two areas of medieval strip lynchets, centred at ST 699004. <3>

'A' centred ST 698005. Six well-preserved strip lynchets on a south facing pasture slope, 0.5 to 1.5m in height and 15.0 to 40.0m apart according to the steepness of the slope. In length they vary from 200.0 to 300.0m. Traces of their former continuence are to be seen in the field to the east. <4>

An area of medieval strip lynchets at Kiddle's Bottom are visible as earthworks on Environment Agency lidar imagery and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project. <6>

<1> Royal Air Force, 11-04-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 2371-72, 2371-72 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17385.

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 219 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(40) CULTIVATION REMAINS. Each of the three former tithings of Piddletrenthide had its own open-field system; they were finally enclosed in 1817 (Map and Award, D.C.R.O.). Strip fields of the former open fields of Higher Tithing remain in four places. … About 300 yds. S.W. of these, on the N. side of Kiddles Bottom (698005), are some 10 acres of contour strip lynchets; before enclosure these lay in Middle Field.’

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, 12-FEB-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Phillips, A S, Various, Field Investigators Comments ASP, F1 ASP 15-JUL-77 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199088 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Aug 9 2024 11:38AM