Monument record MDO4111 - Prehistoric field system, Iwerne Stepleton

Traces of 'Celtic' fields are visible north of Everley Coppice around ST 872 118 and north east of Everley Farm (ST 871 118) are faint traces of two medieval strip lynchets.

No distinct traces on RAF air photographs. <1-3>

Note: MDO4111 only represents the celtic field part of UID 206200. The strip lynchet element of UID 206200 is represented by MDO4106.

<1> Royal Air Force, 27-Apr-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2038 4229-30 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18569.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 135, No 5 (Monograph). SDO146.

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 341-342 (Monograph). SDO136.

'Group (61): STOURPAINE, IWERNE STEPLETON AND IWERNE COURTNEY.
'Celtic' fields, all greatly disturbed, appear over some 150 acres of E. Stourpaine and can be just detected in the two parishes on the N.
All of the fields are on Upper Chalk between 200 ft. and 500 ft. O.D. To the E. of Manor Farm, Stourpaine, ST 865096, and E. of Ash Farm, 868101 to 873100, in both instances on N.-facing valley-sides, the remains have been overlain by or integrated with strip and subsequent cultivation. E. of the second block the plough disturbance is generally later. On Stourpaine Down, around 880107, a broken pattern can be seen in a field called Horse Leys on the Tithe Map. (CPE/UK 1944: 3322-4). The only apparent complete fields here are 120 yds. Long and about 35 yds. Wide. S. of this, traces on France Down (876091) continue S. into Pimperne, again broken by strip and later cultivation (CPE/UK 1934: 2159-61).
In Iwerne Stepleton there are traces of fields N. of Everley Coppice, around 872118, and in Iwerne Courtney there are traces between Ranston Hill and Furzhill (873128-879129).
Air photographs: CPE/UK 1944: 2323-5.'

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206200 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 21 2022 2:55PM