Monument record MDO3924 - Deserted medieval settlement of Hanford, Hanford

The hamlet of Hanford, known to have been deserted by 1650. Represented by earthworks of the settlement which cover around 4 acres. They consist of closes; divided by banks, scarps and a hollow way.

Hanford or Hamford: Once a manor, which was held by the Earl of Moriton at the time of the Domesday Survey. In the reign of Hen III a moiety of the manor was presented to Tarrant Abbey, and at the Dissolution the Abbey held both moieties.

In 32 Hen VIII the manor was granted to John Daccomb, and in 41 Eliz I it was sold to the Seymer family. <1>

Centred at ST 84371121: depopulated area.
A, ST 84261094: pond.

To the north west and west of Hanford House an extensive area of parkland shows typical evidence of depopulation. There are many irregular hollows and mounds, several rectangular banked platforms and fragmentary banks, ditches and hollow ways, such as are usually associated with Medieval depopulated areas. The site slopes gently to the south and is bisected by a small stream.

The local field names, Big Towns and Little Towns are significant. An outstanding earthwork occurs at A. Here, parallel to and on the east side of the modern field boundary is a long narrow pit, 100.0m long and averaging 12.0m wide and 1.3m deep. The north and south ends are closed by a strong bank in each case, which separate the pit from a poorly defined depression on the north, and another on the south end. There are traces of an old watercourse which probably fed the pond, entering on the upper or north end.

The date and purpose of the earthwork is uncertain but it appears to be of some antiquity and could possibly represent a mill-bay or fishpond. No masonry or indications of a building were seen at the site, and no pottery or surface finds of archaeological interest were made during field investigation. <2>

(ST 845111). Settlement remains of the former hamlet of Hanford lie immediately north of the church. A population of eight is recorded in 1086 (D.B.I,f.79a) and the same number of taxpayers is listed in 1333. The tax paid in 1428 indicates by the terms of the Subsidy that there were still more than ten inhabitants (Fedual Aids,1284-1431,II, 83). By 1650 Hanford House was the only inhabited building in the Parish (Hutchins IV,63). The earthworks of the settlement covering some four acres, include a hollow-way 80yds long, 20ft wide and 2ft deep, orientated NE-SW. A mutilated scarp, 2 to 3ft high, lies 30yds to the SE and parallel with the hollow-way. To the north west are three rectangular closes,30yds long and 20yds wide, divided by low scarps, 6ins to 2ft high and bounded on the north west by a bank 10ft wide and 3ft high. Beyond this are fragmentary traces of two other closes, up to 100yds long and 30yds wide bounded by low banks. Further west is an area of irregular hollows, mounds and scarps which may also be part of the former settlement. Listed. <3>

<1> Hutchins, J, 1870, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 4. 1st edition, 61-2 (Monograph). SDO19486.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 11-JAN-56 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 104, No 4 (Monograph). SDO146.

'(4) SETTLEMENT REMAINS of the former hamlet of Hanford (845111) lie immediately N. of (1). A population of eight is recorded in 1086 (D.B. I, f,. 79a) and the same number of taxpayers are listed in 1333. The tax paid in 1428 indicated by the terms of the Subsidy that there still were more than ten inhabitants (Feudal Aids, 1284-1431, II, 83). By 1650 Hanford House was the only inhabited building in the parish (Hutchins IV, 63).
The earthworks of the settlement , covering some four acres, include a hollow-way 80 yds. long, 20 ft. wide and 2 ft. deep, orientated N.E.-S.W. A mutilated scarp, 2 ft. to 3 ft. high, lies 30 yds. to the S.E. and parallel with the hollow-way. To the N.W. are three rectangular closes, 30 yds. long and 20 yds. wide, divided by low scarps, ½ ft. to 2 ft. high and bounded on the N.W. by a bank 10 ft. wide and 3 ft. high. Beyond this are fragmentary traces of two other closes, up to 100 yds. long and 30 yds. wide, bounded by low banks.
Further W. is an area of irregular hollows, mounds and scarps which may also be part of the former settlement'.

<4> Beresford, M, and Hurst, J G, 1971, Deserted Medieval Villages, 186 (Monograph). SWX1568.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1994, Medieval Village Research Group Index, PRN 501 (Index). SDO16386.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206266 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 20 2023 7:06PM