Monument record MDO2779 - Medieval strip field system, Tolpuddle

Remains of a medieval strip field system around Tolpuddle. An area of strip lynchets, that form part of this system, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1944.

Centred SY 809949. Field System. Pronounced lynchets here. <1>

Fragmentary contour strip lynchets exist southwest of Ashley Barn in area SY 807950. <2>

An area of strip lynchets, that form part of the system described in <2> are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1944. The field boundaries are formed of linear banks or ditches and are visible over an area measuring approximately 300 m by 160 m. <3> This feature was digitally plotted as part of the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 01-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 290 (Monograph). SDO136.

'(9) Cultivation Remains. A three-field system was probably in existence in 1401 (Dorset I.P.M., Vol. I (1916), 144) and these fields were finally enclosed in 1794 (Enclosure Award, D.C.R.O.). At the time of enclosure, a New or Common field was recorded in addition to the West, Middle and East Fields. Strip fields, probably of the former Middle Field, lie 300 yds. N.E. of the church on both sides of a small dry valley (794946); they consist of four contour strip lynchets, up to 160 yds. long. Fragmentary contour strip lynchets also exist ¾ m. S.W. of Ashley Barn (807950).'

<3> United States Army Air Forces, 04-JAN-1944, US/7PH/GP/LOC138 5018-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13597.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456180 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 23 2023 6:55AM