Monument record MDO2169 - Prehistoric field boundaries and trackway, Poxwell

The feature described as 'Trackway' in authority 1 is an old field bank, 0.4m high and 2.0m wide; a bank of similar size runs to the south from the west end of the main bank. Other low banks run to the north, forming small square fields of uncetain date. In the area centred SY 756837 a field system was plotted from air photographs (not cited) by Atkinson (a). Within the delineated area, especially to the east of Moigns Down Barn, are field banks, 0.5m high and 8.0m wide together with lynchets up to 2.0m high forming regular squarish fields. On the north facing lopes around Moigns Down, the system has much lower banks and lynchets, and on the top of the downland it is very poorly defined. <5>

Poxwell and Moigns Down (SY 744836-756835) in Poxwell, Watercombe and Owermoigne parishes. Remains of 'Celtic' fields survive over about 30 acres on, and N. of, the limestone ridge from E Poxwell Lodge to Moigns Down and on a chalk spur N. of it. Only two complete 'Celtic' fields survive N. of Moigns Down. The area has been much disturbed by quarrying and medieval and later cultivation.

N. of the ridge, partly in Poxwell and partly in Watercombe, are fields marked by low N-S lynchets cossing the valley bottom. These were covered with narrow rig and probably represent much altered 'Celtic' fields. S. of them, on the N slope of the ridge, disturbed terraces appear to be the remains of strip lynchets. A trackway 'A' 12ft. Wide, associated with the remains of 'Celtic' fields, followed the N. shoulder of the ridge from 74408355 eastwards in Owermoigne parish where it joined the N. edge of a possible settlement area related to a platform (SY 753835:see plan) on the S. shoulder of the ridge. This platform, 1/5 acre in area, is bounded on the S. by a low bank above scarps up to 6 ft high from the angles of which 'Celtic' fields appear to have been laid off. A lynchet above the N side of the platform is due to subsequent ploughing of the ridge top. <7>

The Celtic field system remains generally as described by RCHM (4), but is very fragmentary having been reduced by ploughing to inconspicuous scarps everywhere except on the ridge itself. Strip lynchets are most prominent on the sides of the coombe south-east of Moigus Down Barn (centred SY 75458365) but even here most have been reduced by ploughing. The trackway (SY 7443359 - SY 74848365) and the platform (SY 75288348) remain as described. Platform surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <8>

The fragmentary remains of a prehistoric system and trackway visible as earthworks on aerial photographs to the south-east of Poxwell <2-4>. The features were digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

The prehistoric field system described in <7> is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs continuing to the east on Moigns Down. The features are formed of low earthwork banks forming partial sub-rectangular fields. The field system is visible over an area measuring approximately 1140 m by 670 metres. <10> These features were digitally plotted as part of the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

('A' SY 74438359 to SY 74848365) Trackway (NR)

<2> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 3277-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11788.

<3> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4441-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13844.

<4> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4443-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11784.

<5> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, NVQ F1 15-DEC-54 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5.1> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, Annotated Record Map Rec. 6 (R J C Atkinson 1 3 49) (Map). SWX2397.

<6> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

('A' SY 7443 8359 to SY 74848365) Earthwork (NR)

<7> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 627 (Monograph). SDO150.

'GROUP (11): POXWELL AND MOIGNS DOWN (SY 78 SW, SE; 744836–756835) in Poxwell, Watercombe and Owermoigne parishes. Remains of 'Celtic' fields survive over about 30 acres on, and N. of, the limestone ridge from E. of Poxwell Lodge to Moigns Down and on a chalk spur N. of it. Only two complete 'Celtic' fields survive N. of Moigns Down. The area has been much disturbed by quarrying and mediaeval and later cultivation.
N. of the ridge, partly in Poxwell and partly in Watercombe, are fields marked by low N.-S. lynchets crossing the valley bottom. These were covered with narrow rig and probably represent much altered 'Celtic' fields. S. of them, on the N. slope of the ridge, disturbed terraces appear to be the remains of strip lynchets. A trackway, 12 ft. wide, associated with the remains of 'Celtic' fields, followed the N. shoulder of the ridge from 74408355 eastwards into Owermoigne parish where it joined the N. edge of a possible settlement area related to a platform (a) (753835; Fig. above ) on the S. shoulder of the ridge. This platform, 1/5 acre in area, is bounded on the S. by a low bank above scarps up to 6 ft. high from the angles of which 'Celtic' fields appear to have been laid off. A lynchet above the N. side of the platform is due to subsequent ploughing of the ridge top. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821: 4440–3.)'

<7.1> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4440-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13846.

<7.2> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4442-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11786.

<8> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JBG 18-SEP-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<9> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<10> 15-FEB-2005, NMR SY 7483/3-7 (23746/9-13) (Aerial Photograph). SDO11789.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454191 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 21 2023 10:20AM