Monument record MDO2814 - Lynchets on Seldon Hill, Up Cerne

Banked curvilinear parallel earthworks are visible on Seldon Hill on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are probably medieval lynchets and were digitally plotted during the Dorset upper Frome AIM project.

Area centred at ST 65100235. Running along the north side of Wancombe Bottom are a number of strong medieval strip lynchets, to some extent superimposed upon the earlier field system ST 60 SW 11, particularly at the east end.

A fine example of three parallel medieval cultivation terraces, well defined on OS APs extending from ST 6475 0228 to ST 65040225 for a distance of approximately 5.0m. The grass covered terraces average 1.7m high and 300.0m. wide. In area ST 65250250, the features are under modern cultivation. <1>

The slight earthwork and cropmark remains of the Medieval/Post Medieval and Later Prehistoric field systems and strip lynchets as described by the above authority are visible on aerial photographs taken in 2006. The strip lynchets are visible at the southern extent of Seldon Hill. The field system can be seen across the grassy northern half of the hill, but the full extent is hidden by the patchwork of wooded and cultivated areas. The cropmark remains of a curvilinear ditch defined enclosure of probable Later Prehistoric date is visible centred at approximately ST 6508 0553. At the centre of this enclosure is a circular depression. There are many other circular earthwork depressions and cropmarks of levelled negative features of uncertain date visible across the site. It is not clear whether the enclosure overlies or underlies the field system. These features were visible on aerial photographs taken by English Heritage in 2006 as part of the Reconnaissance Recording Programme. <4>

Banked curvilinear parallel earthworks are visible on Seldon Hill on 1940s aerial photographs <5-6>. The features comprise narrow curvilinear banks that curve round the base of the hill from west to south to northeast. The banks are closley parallel to each other and are probably medieval lynchets. Banked linear earthworks associated with a late prehistoric enclosed field system (MDO2812) are visible closely adjacent to their north side. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset upper Frome AIM project.

The features are still largely visible as earthworks on Google Earth imagery.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 87 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(10) LYNCHETS, on the S.E. slope of Seldon Hill 700 yards W.S.W. of the church.'

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 31-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2.1> Ordnance Survey, AP OS/74 088 150-51 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18842.

<3> Stone, J W, Field Investigators Comments JWS, F2 JWS 04-OCT-76 (Unpublished document). SDO11902.

<4> National Monuments Record, 06-DEC-2006, NMR 24496/12 ST 6503/44 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18841.

<5> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 FP 1050-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17031.

<6> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 4376-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17032.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 198947 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 21 2022 10:04AM