Monument record MDO2576 - Deserted medieval village of Modbury, Swyre

Earthworks of a deserted medieval village. The main features are boundary scarps which survive to a maximum height of 0.6 metres and a maximum width of 2.5 metres. Also present is a north-south bank dividing an area into two enclosures. The village, Modbury, is mentioned in documentary references {RCHM}. Earthwork remains of banks, ditches and hollows are visible on aerial photographs and LiDAR {2,3} and were digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

The hamlet of Modbury "has been depopulated beyond the memory of man; and seems to be the Motberge mentioned in old records". It is situated about 1/4 mile west of Berwick House, where ruins and foundations appear on both sides of the road to Burton, under a cover of trees. <1>

The fields on each side of the modern E.W. road are under grass, and exhibit an area of banks and scarps forming platforms, which, taken in association with the situation near a stream in the valley, suggests a site of medieval depopulation. The main features are the boundary scarps which average 0.6m high and 2.5m wide. There is a gentle slope from S. to N. which accentuates the scarps on the lower or N. side. To the N. of the road a N-S bank divides the area into two two enclosures; a similar case exists to the S. of the road, but this is less well defined. Within the platforms caused by these banks and scarps the ground has been disturbed in more recent times by earth digging, and probably the uprooting of trees. No foundations of structures were seen, and no occupation debris. <4>

Modbury is mentioned in the 1236 Feet of Fines and Feudal Aids of 1412. Fagersten <3> says that the name is probably derived from the Old English '(ge)motbeorg' meaning 'barrow of hill of meeting'. In 1964 a pipeline laid through the northern edge of the site showed some 2-3ft of sterile river alluvium over-lying a layer of dark earth from which a quantity of 13th-14th century pottery was recovered. <5>

Earthwork remains of banks, ditches and hollows are visible on aerial photographs and LiDAR <8-9> and were digitally plotted for the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 784 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1891 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 514897) Modbury (NR) (Site of) (NAT)

<3> Fagersten, A, 1933, Place-names of Dorset, 252 (Monograph). SDO17521.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 22-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1966, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1965, 22 (Serial). SDO65.

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

(Centred SY 51498979) Deserted Medieval Village of Modbury (site of) (NAT)

<7> Waller, Carolyn M, 1996, An Enhancement of Modbury for the SMR: A Deserted Medieval Settlement, Swyre, West Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO14150.

<8> 21-APR-2006, LiDAR D0060470 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11494.

<9> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4293-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11385.

<10> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/088 RCHME Inventory: Dorset I (West) and Revision (Unpublished document). SDO17367.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450476 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 12 2023 10:56AM