Monument record MDO2528 - Stockwood Deer Park, Stockwood

A medieval deer park. The location and extent of the deer park is as identified by Cantor and Wilson, based on park field names and a length of earthwork bank with characteristics suggesting it was part of the deer park pale.

In 1230 William de Cautilupo was granted a licence
to "enclose his wood of Stockwood and to make a part of it" (a).
A group of six fields with park names at the northern end of
the parish (area centred SU 58500880) are shown on a sketch map
(see Illustration card). These fields and a length of eminently
characteristic bank and ditch make this area the site of a
medieval park.
The bank referred to runs from 'A' (SU 58950880) to 'B' (SU
58560913) and follows the parish boundary for almost its entire
length. It is a flat-topped steeply sided bank 20' wide and
3-4' high.
At 'C' (SU 58290888) a bank, for the most part 15' wide and 3'
high, is to be found to the east of the road and it runs to 'D'
(SU 58590847).
The sketch map shows the suggested course for the remaining
park pale which encloses an area of about 80 acres. (1)

The Medieval Deer Park of Stockwood lies in a small irregular enclaveof Stockwood parish at the junction of that parish with the parishes of Yetminster and Melbury Osmond. As stated by Cantor (auths 1 and 2) its pale is followed for much of the time by the parish boundary but it is significant that where the parish boundary leaves it (or its presumed course) the parish boundary changes and weakens.

The best preserved section of the pale lies between Cantor's A and B (see his map) where along to north and north east sides of Briars Wood and south east to the stream at ST 589087, a distance of some 500m, the pale, comprising a bank with inner ditch, is up to 8.5m in width and near the stream, 2.0m in height.

From Cantor's B west along the north and west sides of Briars Wood itis extant although less well preserved, and from the south west corner of the wood to Cantor's C it has been destroyed and under plough.
From Cantor's C to D it is marked by the stronger-than-normal parish boundary, but from D through E and F to A there is no trace although there is no evidence, and no good reason, to contradict Cantor's line. Because the course is followed wholly by modern boundaries it is not asuitable subject for survey at 1:2500 but the course of the best preserved sections of pale should be published on the maps. (3)

<1> ed. H C Maxwell Lyte, 1902, Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III: Volume 1, 1227-1231, 296 (Monograph). SDO17934.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1967, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1966, 181-183 (Serial). SDO66.

'STOCKWOOD (36). The small parish of Stockwood lies on the Oxford Clay in the extreme south-western corner of Blackmore Vale, just north of the wooded eminence of Bubb Down Hill. Here, in 1230, William de Cantilupo was granted a licence to “enclose his wood of Stocwood and make a park of it” (Cal.C.R. 1227-31, p296). An Inquisition Post Mortem on George de Cantilupo in 1274 includes this reference: “There is a separate pasture called Puireswood, 12 acres, another pasture called Morylese, 16 acres, and a park called Stockwode of 70 acres of which 40 are wood and the rest pasture”. (C.133). The De Banco Roll for 1285 contains references to litigation of a familiar kind involving Stockwood Park: “Elizabeth la Zouche v. John, son of John Mautravers, John Tyrell and John, son of John Fauconer, because they . . . broke into the park of said Elizabeth at Stokes St. Edwald and chaced the deer to her damage of £20”. (Fry, G.I. p235). Another of the medieval names for this manor occurs in an Inquisition post Mortem of 1331 on Joan, late the wife of Hugh Wake, which includes the following item: “Five virgates of land, held of Hugh Poyntz, by service of making a perch of hedge around the said Hugh’s park of Stokewode Poyntz”. (Cal. I.P.M., VII, p.241). We have found similar conditions of tenure elsewere, notably in connection with Duntish Park (Proceedings 84, p.147). The Inquisition on this same

<3> Cantor, Leonard, 1983, The Medieval parks of England: A Gazetteer, 26 (Monograph). SDO17933.

<4> Wardale, C F, Various, Field Investigators Comments CFW, F1 CFW 03-FEB-87 (Unpublished document). SWX2704.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 195716 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 7 2022 10:06AM