Monument record MDO39658 - Historic trackway, Hurn Court Farm, Hurn, Christchurch

A historic ditched trackway to the northeast of Hurn Court Farm is visible on 1940s aerial photographs. It is likely to be post medieval in origin, although an earlier date is possible. The feature was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

A historic ditched trackway to the northeast of Hurn Court Farm is visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1).

The trackway comprises two long parallel ditched linears, 1.5m in width and set 1.8m apart from each other. The trackway aligns with an adjacent historic field boundary to the east, shown on the OS 1st Edition map (2) and also with a series of historic linear field boundaries to the west showing as cropmarks on a 2005 aerial photograph (MDO39657). The historic field boundaries to the west and south appear to be on a slightly different alignment. This indicates a probable phasing of historic enclosure at West Hurn. On the assumption that the boundary alignment closest to the settlement of West Hurn is likely to reflect a relatively early phase of enclosure, the trackway and field boundaries to the east are therefore likely to be part of a secondary or later phase of enclosure, probably post medieval in origin although an earlier, perhaps later medieval date is possible.

Google Earth imagery indicates that the trackway is under an area of development by 2009 (3).

The trackway was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 18-SEPT-57, OS/57R4 V 129-30 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15541.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

<3> Google Earth, 2009, Google Earth 2009 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15393.

Record last edited

Oct 13 2017 3:00PM