Monument record MDO2284 - Shrunken village of West Bexington, Puncknowle

Deserted settlement earthworks identified within an area approximately 200 metres by 250 metres to the south and southeast of West Bexington Farm. Earthwork banks and hollows are visible on aerial photographs {1} and were digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

West Bexington was anciently a district parish and manor. The village was burnt by the French and the inhabitants held to ransom in 1439-40, since which time it has been converted to a farm "for want of Inhabitants". <1>

In 1451 the rector of Puncknowle was ordered to repair the chancel of St Giles Church at Bexington and the celebrate Mass there once a week and on St Giles Day. The church stood near the sea shore, but only a small part of the wall remains. <2>

(Bexington is shown with a church symbol on Morden's map of Dorset 1691). In an area approximately 200.0m x 250.0m S and SE of West Bexington Farm are many square and rectangular banked platforms, hollows and scarps, partly under grass and partly under the plough. The earthworks are typical of an area of medieval depopulation. There are some hollows 3.0 to 6.0m. wide and 0.2m to 1.5m deep, which cross the area and perhaps represent trackways. In the s. part of the area the plough has turned up fragments of medieval type pottery, some with green and yellowish glaze, and nails. No information was obtained on the site of the church, but the earthworks appear to represent the pre- 15th c village of West Bexington. <3>

Bexington paid geld for 9 1/2 hides in the reign of Edward (1042-66) and the manor is recorded in Domesday. <5>

SY 533867. Deserted medieval village of West Bexington listed. <7>

The chapel of St Giles church was transferred to Puncknowle parish church in 1660. <8>

Bailey <10> considers that the church probably stood near the Manor House, where human remains found suggest the site of the medieval graveyard. Dewar <4> records the discovery of a skeleton at SY 533867 with 3 sherds of possibly 12th - 14th century pottery. Mortared foundation courses of a wall were exposed 20 ft SE of this.

The site of St Giles Church at West Bexington was excavated in 1983. The S.E corner of the chancel is at SY 53298676. Twelve graves were also recorded. <11>

Additional field information. <13>

Deserted settlement earthworks identified within an area approximately 200 metres by 250 metres to the south and
southeast of West Bexington Farm. The settlement was first documented during the reign of Edward (1042-66). It was
burnt by the French in 1439-40 and the inhabitants held to ransom. By circa 1625 the village was reported to be
depopulated. The earthworks comprise many square and rectangular banked platforms, hollows and scarps. Hollow
ways are also present and range between 3 metres - 6 metres in width and between 0.2 metres to 1.5 metres in depth.
Pottery has been recovered from ploughing. The site of the church was excavated in 1983 when twelve graves were
recorded. Earthwork banks and hollows are visible on aerial photographs {1} and were digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Gerard, T (Coker, J ), 1732, A Survey of Dorsetshire. (Cartographic materials). SWX8143.

<2> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 771 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 12-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1962, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1961, 82 (Serial). SDO61.

<5> Pugh, R B (ed), 1968, The Victoria history of the county of Dorset 3 1968 - Domesday Survey, 98 (Monograph). SWX2915.

<6> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1968 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 533867) Earthworks (NR)

<7> Beresford, M, and Hurst, J G, 1971, Deserted Medieval Villages, 186 (Monograph). SWX1568.

<8> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 353 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<9> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1985, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1984, 120-123 (Serial). SDO84.

<10> Bailey, C J, 1982, The Bride Valley : the story of the past, with photographs of the present, 79-80 (Monograph). SWX1298.

<11> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1985, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1984, 120-3 (Serial). SDO84.

<12> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1994, Medieval Village Research Group Index, PRN 439 (Index). SDO16386.

<13> Unpublished revision RCHME Dorset I (West) Undated (Puncknowle file) (Unpublished document). SWX1658.

<14> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 3282-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12158.

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 915169 (Index). SDO14738.

West Bexington DMV/pencil survey. Pencil survey added to inked outline of building plots

<16> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF0915162 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: West Bexington, Puncknowle, Dorset. An undated survey of the earthworks possibly related to proposed levelling by owners.Contents : 1 planCondition : INTACT

<17> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450535 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 12 2023 7:49PM