Monument record MDO1933 - Strip lynchet, Plush, Piddletrenthide: Medieval cultivation remains

A block of contour strip lynchets in the form of well-preserved terraces. Part of the open field system around Plush, which was enclosed in 1825. The strip lynchets are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and were digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project.

'A' (Centred ST 711021) A well-preserved group of contour strip lynchets covers 16 acres. 'B' (Centred ST 714019) Slight remains of strip lynchets together with ridge and furrow. <1-2>

'C' (Centred ST 713024) A few pronounced strip lynchets under grass and in cleared coppice. <3-4>

The lynchets at 'A', 'B' and 'C' remain as described. They vary in height between 0.5m and 2.0m.

Poorly defined on OS air photographs <5.1>. <5>

The strip lynchets are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and were digitally recorded during the Mid Dorset Downs AIM project. (Environment Agency 2023).

Environment Agency, 15-DEC-2023, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO20691.

<1> 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.). … The open fields of Plush were finally enclosed in 1825 (Map and Award, D.C.R.O.). Immediately W. of Plush (711021), a well-preserved group of contour strip lynchets covers 16 acres (Plate 192); an area of ridge-and-furrow on the N.W. side of the area is clearly secondary to the strip lynchets; these all lay in Middle Field before enclosure.’

<2> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF CPE/UK/1975 1039-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17446.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 12-FEB-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

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 Barrett, G, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments GB (Unpublished document).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

<5.1> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/044 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17539.

<5.1> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/045 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17534.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 202018 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 26 2025 12:51PM