Monument record MDO348 - Strip lynchets at Walditch, Bothenhampton

A system of medieval strip lynchets are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and aerial photographs between Blueberry Hill Farm and Bonscombe Hill. They were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP project.

[SY 4892.] Lychets. A series of terraces to the E, W & S of WALDITCH village. [See Dorset 38 SW 26 for lynchets to W. of Village] <1>

[Area centred SY 4830 9225.] A pattern of Md. type strip cultivation forming terraces, following the natural contours and generally on a northern slope.
A. SV 4845 9227 . A fine example of cultivation terraces on a steep slope with a vertical drop of up to 4.5m of the sloping bank between the terraces. In view of the steepness of the hillside it is difficult to consider that these banks are solely the result of the plough forming lynchets and it would appear that some, if not all, of the levelling process of the terraces took place prior to cultivation. These terraces are still under cultivation.
B. SY 4823 9222. Similar too A but generally less pronounced.
C. SY 4812 9227. Parallel lynchets up to 1.0m. In height on a less steep slope and under pasture.
D. SY 4840 9253. Almost vertical contour following terrace banks of 3.0m, ave. height. <2>

"Lynchets on the S. slope of BONSCOMBE HILL form four terraces, from 25ft. To 40ft. Wide." <1>

A: Centred at SY 4854 9223;
B: Centred at SY 4877 9221;
C: Centred at SY 4911 9216.
Three areas of Md strip lynchets, under grass.

A: Four pronounced strip lynchets: the terraces average 15.0m. Wide, with a drop between each of 2.5m.

B. Strip lynchets set in N-S. or E.-W. directions to conform to the contours. The terraces are from 10.0m to 20.0m. Wide, and the lynchets average 2.0m. High.

C. Very poorly defined E-W. lynchets on a N. facing slope. These lynchets have been rounded by later cultivation.

All areas are distinctly visible on AP. CPE/UK/2431/3161, and parts are shown on AP. ST.J/AX/84-6.

Centred at SY 4865 9273.
On the N. slope of the hills are several grass covered strip lynchets with terraces averaging 15.0m. Wide with a drop of 2.0m. To 3.0m. Between each. <3>

The system of medieval strip lynchets are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery and aerial photographs between Blueberry Hill Farm and Bonscombe Hill. They were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP project <5-6>.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 30 (Monograph). SDO97.

'The following lynchets (16 and 17) no doubt form part of the former field-systems of their respective villages. (16) LYNCHETS (Plate 70), to the E., W. and S. of Walditch village, form ten groups as follows: (a) on an E. slope about 650 yards E.S.E. of the church, a series now about 200 yards long but formerly extending another 200 yards to the S.; the terraces are 10 to 12 yards wide; (b) traces of a series on a W. slope, S.E. of (a); (c) series of four terraces on a N.E. slope, 100 yards W. of (a), about 10 to 15 yards wide; (d) series of terraces imediately N. of (c) and forming a right-angled bend facing the E. and N.; (e) irregular terraces to the S.W. of (d); (f) series facing N.E., about 250 yards long and 300 yards S.W. of (d); (g) series facing N.W., 600 yards N.W. of the church and about 250 yards long; (h) series facing N.E. and at right angles to (g); (i) three terraces facing S.W. and on the opposite side of the re-entrant to (h); (j) three or four terraces facing N. adjoining and nearly at right angles to (i).'

<2> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 22-SEP-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 06-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 882717 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Earthworks on Shipton Hill, Shipton Gorge, Dorset. Includes 2 profiles at different scale.

<5> Environment Agency, 2010, Lidar DTM, sy4892se_dtm_50cm.asc and sy4892ne_dtm_50cm.asc (Aerial Photograph). SDO13148.

<6> Royal Air Force, 27-APR-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2621 3052-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO14115.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450149 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:42PM