Monument record MDO2193 - Settlement of Cheselbourne Ford, Puddletown

SY 771963. The site of the Medieval settlement of Cheselbourne Ford lies in the extreme north-east of Puddletown parish, on the west side of Devil's Brook. It had a recorded population of six in 1086, and of four in 1327. In 1512 the settlement paid a subsidy of only 9s 8d., and by the middle of the 17th century only one house is recorded, and even that was in ruins. The site was destroyed in 1965; before that the remains covered 14 acres and consisted of ten rectangular closes along the edge of the brook. They were up to 150 yards long by 40 yards wide, bounded by banks 1 1/2 feet to 2 feet high and 15 feet wide. Disturbed areas at the lower ends indicated former house sites, and there were slight traces of other possible closes to the north. (RCHME 1970)

Enclosures visible on air photographs (RAF 1947), as described by RCHM. No remains - ploughed out. (Barton 1980)

National Record of the Historic Environment, 454634 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Barton, J G, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments JGB, F1 JGB 20-OCT-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

Royal Air Force, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 4110 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20155.

John Hutchins, edited by Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W, 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 617 (Monograph). SDO9443.

Meekings, C A F, 1951, Dorset hearth tax assessments, 1662-1664 (Rawlinson mss B. 292-296 in theBodleian Library), 12 (Monograph). SDO19951.

Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 230 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(23) Settlement Remains (771963) of Cheselbourne Ford lie in the extreme N.E. of the parish, on the W. side of Devil’s Brook.

The settlement had a recorded population of six in 1086 (D.B. Vol. I., f. 83b) and of four in 1327. By the early 16th century the population must have been very small indeed for in 1512 the settlement paid a subsidy of only 9s. 8d., little more than half the amount paid by Bardolfeston which then was almost deserted (S. & D., N. & Q., III (1892-3), 193). By the middle of the 17th century only one house is recorded (Meekings, 12), and even that was in ruins (Hutchins II, 617).

The remains cover 14 acres and consist of a line of ten rectangular closes along the edge of the brook; they are up to 150 yds. long and 40 yds. wide and are bounded by banks 1½ ft. to 2 ft. high and 15 ft. wide. Disturbed areas at the lower ends indicate former house-sites. There are slight traces of other possible closes to the N. (Destroyed, 1965).’

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1994, Medieval Village Research Group Index, PRN 481 (Index). SDO16386.

Record last edited

Nov 4 2025 1:59PM