Monument record MDO327 - Ridge and furrow, West Field, Bishops Caundle

The remains of a medieval field system in the form of ridge and furrow arranged in curving furlongs. Field names on the tithe map (1841) suggest that this may be West Field, part of an open field system, though nothing is known of the open fields of the parish or the date of enclosure.

ST 686 127. Ridge-and-furrow on either side of Bere Lane, Bishop's Caundle is arranged in curving furlongs and may be the remains of open fields. <1>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 16 (Monograph). SDO146.

'(15) Cultivation Remains. Nothing is known of the open fields of the parish or of the date of their enclosure. Field names on the Tithe Map of 1841 perhaps indicate former North and West fields. Air photographs (R.A.F. CPE/UK 1974: 2192-94) reveal traces of ridge-and-furrow in the N. and N.W. of the parish (693135 and 686127); it is arranged in curving furlongs and may be the remains of the open fields. Ridge-and-furrow, 5 yds. To 9 yds. In width, occurs in the existing fields around Wake Court (5) and is clearly of post-enclosure date'.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 887720 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 18 2022 12:22PM