Monument record MDO3698 - Prehistoric field system on Chettle Down, Chettle

'Celtic' fields formerly covered much of the north and west of Chettle parish, but the majority have been severely damaged by ploughing and are now only visible on aerial photographs. Traces of fields extend as far east as Hookswood Common.

A field system centred at ST 942145. <1>

Lynchets visible in areas centred ST 94251466, ST 94631516, ST 93951466, ST 946 71473 and ST 94801450. <2>

'Celtic' fields formerly covered the area between ST 940 152 and ST 940135 but the majority has been severely damaged by ploughing. They survive on Chettle Common, around ST 940145, and may be traced into Chettle Chase Coppice, but these examples have been damaged by later digging and are partly obscured by scrub. They lie on a gentle S slope and are defined by lynchets or low spread banks, rarely more than 2ft high. Though ploughed, they are visible to the E, up to and S of the settlement (ST 91 SW 21). Several of the fields or closes near the settlement are irregular in shape. Traces of fields extend as far as Hookswood Common (ST 945152). Further traces, detached from the main block, occur to the NW in Tarrant Gunville, just S of the enclosure (ST 91 NW 40). <3>

<1> Atkinson, R J C, Annotated record map 1 to 6 inch scale, 1.3.49 (Map). SDO18356.

<2> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 12-APR-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 119-120 (Monograph). SDO99.

<3.1> Royal Air Force, 24-04-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2038 3065-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18357.

<3.2> St Joseph, J K, St Joseph ANC 4 6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18358.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210187 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2022 4:26PM