Monument record MDO3961 - Deserted medieval settlement, Hilton

Evidence of village shrinkage in a large field adjacent to the village of Hilton, the earthworks consist of enclosures, scarps and banks as well as rectangular enclosures.

(Area centred ST 78430294) Village earthworks, adjacent to the village of Hilton in a large field, consist of enclosures, scarps and banks including the rectangular enclosures, 14yds x 8 yds and 12 x 6 yds, SW of the orchard in the NW of the field. <1>

A grass covered field with earthworks as described above. The banks and scarps are from 0.2m. to 0.7m. high, and average 7.0m wide. The earthworks are most concentrated in the W half of the field and are visible on Aps <2.1-2.2>.

Only the southernmost of the two rectangular enclosures is now surveyable. It is set in a NW-SE direction and is 12.0m. x 8.0m; the bank is 2.5m. wide and 0.4m. high. The other enclosure would seem to have been a few metres to the north but is very mutilated and almost unrecognisable. The enclosure 'A' is at ST 78330299. <2>

ST 784029. Settlement remains cover 7 acres on the S.E. side of Hilton village. The remains are all within an area that is bounded to NE and SE by a bank 2ft. to 3ft. high and 20ft. wide; they consist of closes of various sizes and shapes, with sides up to 80ft. long, bounded by low banks and scarps. Within the closes are platforms, probably of houses; they occur most conspicuously along the existing road to the S.W, where there are at least seven platforms up to 20ft. by 60ft. Many of the closes and the boundary bank were still in use in 1771 (a) although the house sites had been abandoned. <3>

<1> RCHM Mss file (Unpublished document). SWX2467.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 23-AUG-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF CPE/UK/1975 1031-32, 1031 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17634.

<2.2> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF CPE/UK/1975 1029 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17647.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 113 (Monograph). SDO146.

'(28) SETTLEMENT REMAINS (784029) cover 7 acres on the S.E. side of Hilton village. The remains are all within an area that is bounded to N.E. and S.E. by a bank 2 ft. to 3 ft. high and 20 ft. wide; they consist of closes of various sizes and shapes, with sides up to 80 ft. long, bounded by low banks and scarps. Within the closes are platforms, probably of houses; they occur most conspicuously along the existing road to the S.W., where there are at least seven platforms up to 20 ft. by 60 ft. Many of the closes and the boundary bank were still in use in 1771 (Map by Wm. Woodward, 1771, see p.183) although the house sites had been abandoned.'

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 201824 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 4 2024 11:54AM