Monument record MDO2153 - Poxwell, medieval strip lynchets

Centred at SY 73908373. A series of pronounced parallel strip lynchets adjoining the modern field boundary with traces of a north-south pattern of strip cultivation joining the lynchets. Under grass. <1>

(SY 739837). Strip lynchets and traces shown on Medieval field plan. (see illust). <3>

A few strip lynchets, centred at SY 740837, survive around the head of the coombe only, and are as described above. <4>

Medieval strip field system with associated cultivation ridges visible as earthworks on aerial photographs to the south of Poxwell <5>. The site was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 17-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1968, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1967, 135-139 (Serial). SDO67.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 263 (Monograph). SDO149.

‘(10) STRIP LYNCHETS: fragmentary remains at eight places, cover 41 acres. Traces of other strips just visible on air photographs, as well as characteristic angular indents in field banks and details on the Tithe Map of 1839, add to the picture of former open-field arrangements. These open fields seem to have covered virtually the whole parish E. of the curving boundary line linking Poxwell Grove (739848) to the angle in the parish boundary S.E. of Old Down Barn (734840). … The remains are of contour type W. of the village (around … 739837 … Treads are up to 300 yds. long and 20 yds. wide and risers up to 12 ft. high. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821:4443–5, 6435–7.)‘

<4> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 10-JUL-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<5> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4445-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11771.

<6> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454399 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 26 2023 8:03AM