Monument record MDO3568 - Shrunken medieval settlement, Blandford St Mary

Medieval settlement remains, part of the village of Blandford St Mary, consisting of the earthworks of closes and house sites on both sides of a broad hollow way which continues the line of a road in the present village.

(Centred ST 890055) Settlement remains formerly part of the village of Blandford St Mary, occur around the Manor House and immediately E. of Lower Farm. The remains, covering about 20 acres, lie on both sides of a broad hollow-way, 40 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep, running S.E.-N.W. and continuing the line of a lane in the village. Until the 19th century this hollow-way was the main road along the S.W. side of the R. Stour.
S.W. of the hollow-way are at least five rectangular closes, up to 70 yds. long and 50 yds. wide, bounded by low banks, with disturbed areas indicating the sites of former houses at their N.E. ends. N.E. of the hollow-way and N. of the Manor House, numerous small square and rectangular closes are defined by low banks and scarps.
Further remains, formerly part of Blandford Martel, lie 400 yds. N.W. of the Manor House on either side of the railway. They cover about 6 acres, consist of at least ten rectangular closes with sides up to 70 yds. long, bounded by low banks, scarps and slight ditches. <1-2>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 44-45 (Monograph). SDO146.

'(23) Settlement Remains (892054), formerly part of the village of Blandford St. Mary, occur around the Manor House and immediately E. of Lower Farm. The remains, covering about 20 acres, lie on both sides of a broad hollow-way, 40 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep, running S.E.-N.W. and continuing the line of a lane in the village. Until the 19th century this hollow-way was the main road along the S.W. side of the R. Stour (O.S., 1811). S.W. of the hollow-way are at least five rectangular closes, up to 70 yds. long and 50 yds. wide, bounded by low banks, with disturbed areas indicating the sites of former houses at their N.E. ends. N.E. of the hollow-way and N. of the Manor House, numerous small square and rectangular closes are defined by low banks and scarps. The remains are bounded on the N.W. by a shallow valley beyond which lies Monument (24).'

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 3160-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17711.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205498 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2022 11:58AM