Monument record MDO38739 - Medieval or later enclosures, Lambert's Castle, Marshwood

Two rectilinear banked enclosures or fields are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs in the southwestern corner of Lambert's Castle hillfort. The southern of the two banks is double-banked on the eastern side. The date of the enclosures is uncertain although they have been previously considered to be of medieval origin and probably associated with the site of the fair (MDO38738). The features were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP.

Two rectilinear banked enclosures or fields are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs in the southwestern corner of Lambert's Castle hillfort (1-3). The southern of the two enclosures is double-banked on the eastern side. The date of the enclosures is uncertain although they have been previously considered to be of medieval origin and probably associated with the site of the fair (MDO38738). The features were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP.

The earliest reference to a fair at Lambert's Castle was in 1709 when a grant was obtained to hold an annual fair on the Wednesday before the feast of St John the Baptist (24th June). Compaired with other medieval fairs located on hillforts, it is possible that it was chosen for the site of the 18th century fair due to it being an existing location of a fair of much earlier origins. A fair continued to be held in June on the hilltop intil about 1947 (NRHE UID 1259992).

<1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1414-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO14808.

<2> 23-APR-1980, DAP 6786/01-2 (NMR SY 3799/1-2) (Aerial Photograph). SDO14809.

<3> Dorset County Council, 2002, Dorset County Council Vertical Photograph, SY3799.ecw (Aerial Photograph). SDO13401.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2019 11:43AM