Monument record MDO4045 - Medieval field system, Iwerne Courtney or Shroton

Well-preserved strip lynchets on the eastern flank of the northern spur of Hambledon Hill, running outside and roughly parall to the hillfort ramparts. The earthworks at Hambledon Hill were surveyed by RCHME in 1996. They survive to up to 5 metres high and descend the eastern flank of the hillfort spur obliquely in a sinuous curve which extends for 300 metres. They were initially interpreted as a prehistoric terraced trackway approaching the south-eastern gateway of the hillfort, though this is unlikely given that they are not aligned on the gateway and fade out some distance below it. Roger Mercer has suggested that the lynchets might be part of a possible Bronze Age field system, of which some of the scarps re-used to create the hillfort might be part. There is some evidence that the lynchets re-used pre-existing fields. However, it seems likely that the massive size of the main lynchets is due to their conversion into medieval strip fields. Two slight but broader scarps near the southern end of the lynchets may also be medieval cultivation terraces.

ST 846125 to ST 845129 A flight of four Medieval type strip lynchets, risers 5 to 8m high treads 5 to 7m wide, extend for about 240.0m at base of a steep north east facing slope below Hambledon Hill. Surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <1>

<1> Chaplin, C P, Various, Field Investigators Comments CC, F1 CC 04-APR-78 (Unpublished document). SWX3450.

<1.1> Royal Air Force, 07-JAN-1954, RAF F21/58/1332 6-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19426.

<1.2> Ordnance Survey, OS/75/371 30-32 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19427.

<2> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 1080702 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill

<3> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF1079113 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Hambledon Hill, Dorset. The Neolithic causewayed enclosure complex was surveyed by a team from RCHME Cambridge, Newcastle and Swindon offices in October 1996 as part of the Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic Project.Contents : 10 plans, 2 sections, report, 15 ground models, 2 contour plots, 2 control plots, 23 correspondence, 13 prints, photographic reproduction of plan of Shroton of 1767 showing the earthworksCondition : INTACT

<4> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000926 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (1 of 2)/ink survey. See also GAM 1079875

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000927 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (2 of 2)/ink survey

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000928 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (1 of 8)/pencil survey

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000929 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (2 of 8)/pencil survey

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000930 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (3 of 8)/pencil survey

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000931 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill, outer rampart/pencil section

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000222 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (4 of 8)/pencil survey

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000223 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (5 of 8)/pencil survey

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000224 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (6 of 8)/pencil survey

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000225 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (7 of 8)/pencil survey

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000226 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (8 of 8)/pencil survey

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000227 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambleldon Hill, outer rampart/ink section

<16> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206276 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 15 2023 2:38PM