Monument record MDO1977 - Prehistoric field system, Piddletrenthide

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 228 (Monograph). SDO136.

'Group (43): BALL HILL (Piddletrenthide. Plan, p. 329; Plate 86). 'Celtic' fields, much altered, lie on the summit and slopes of the spur falling S. from Ball Hill, from 800 ft. to 600 ft. O.D., between about ST 725033 at N.E. and 716027 at S.W. Remains, still clear over 50 acres, formerly continued in all directions. To the W., on the S. slopes of Church Hill, they probably joined those of Group (9). There is a probable settlement (a) on the S.E. shoulder of Ball Hill, about 72050305 flanked by a bank (b), with apparent ditch N. of it possibly reused as a track (profile X–Y). Some 250 yds. S.W. of (a), at 71890285, near the summit of the spur, in an area of still quite prominent but considerably disturbed 'Celtic' fields (not shown on the plan), is an almost rectangular platform, about 66 ft. by 42 ft., bounded by low lynchets. The bedrock is Lower and Middle Chalk, with a dense spread of flint on the latter. There has been considerable digging for flints, some of the digging following the line of the lynchets; the circular sinkings N. and N.E. of (a), on slopes of 8° and 20°, are probably due to this. Strip lynchets, mostly destroyed by later cultivation, have intruded into 'Celtic' field remains near the foot of the hill. Immediately W. of Kithill Plantation only the W. ends survive, with risers up to 6 ft. high.
The area of probable settlement (a) is on a gentle sheltered slope facing S.E. It is approached from below, in the S., by a prominent terrace or double-lynchet track, first traceable near the square modern pond. The main section, which may have been ploughed, has a 'tread' about 18 ft. wide between downhill scarp up to 5½ ft. high and uphill scarp 7 ft. high. This latter almost disappears after 70 yds., but a track, where best preserved 9 ft. across between uphill scarp 2 ft. high and downhill scarp 3½ ft. high, bends due N. and then curves westward. It is flanked by a disturbed area, probably with platforms, on the W. side. The curved line of lynchets bordering area (a) on the W. itself suggests former settlement. The double-lynchet feature approaching the same area from the S.W. probably had 'Celtic' fields bounded by the lynchet, 4½ ft. high, on its S.E. side, but the scarp on the N.W. side, 2½ ft. high, could be the product of secondary ploughing. This is probably the explanation of the double-lynchet line that lies at right angles S.E. from the narrower end of this feature.
Bank (b) is 20 ft. across and 2 ft. high above a flat-bottomed hollow, on its N. side, as wide as the bank. It prolongs the alignment of a continuous series of lynchets, not determined by the contours, which runs for at least ¼ mile and suggests a former boundary. The hollow has been blocked by cultivation scarps or banks. 'Celtic' fields based on this line are crossed by the present ridgeway, seen in the N.E. corner of the plan on p. 329.
The 'Celtic' fields are generally bounded by lynchets, exceptionally up to 11 ft. high above the steep S.E. slope. There are, however, some field banks, probably 'Celtic', N. of (b), which are about 13 ft. across and 1 ft. high, packed with flints. Field sizes cannot be assessed with safety because of the destruction of some sides, but they appear to range between 30 yds. to 40 yds. by 60 yds. to 70 yds. Field slopes are up to 18°.
Air photographs: CPE/UK 1974: 4367–8; 1975: 1038–40; Cambridge University Collections, vertical, K.17, E.162–3; obliques, LR 37–42.'

Record last edited

Jan 19 2022 2:29PM