Monument record MDO2157 - Poxwell, medieval strip lynchets

Contour-type strip lynchets and traces are shown in areas SY 741847 and SY 741844 on Medieval field plan (with SY 78 SW 38). <2>

The strip lynchets in these two areas are so much ploughed down that they are only perceptible under favourable light conditions. Those centred at SY 741844 run up and down hill, those at SY 741847 are contour-following. Areas outlined on 1:10 560 Record Sheet. <3>

Medieval strip lynchets are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs to the south-east of Poxwell Grove <5>. The features were digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1968, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1967, 135-139 (Serial). SDO67.

<2> 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 741847… 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.)‘

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 10-JUL-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<5> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 3339-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11766.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454404 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 26 2023 7:59AM