Monument record MDO41165 - Possible post medieval field boundaries, Canford Heath, Poole

Banked linear features on Canford Heath are visible on 1940's aerial photographs. The features are presumed to be historic field boundaries, possibly of post medieval date, although an earlier origin is possible. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

Banked linear features on Canford Heath are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1 and 2).

The features comprise a series of narrow rectilinear and curvilinear banks that sub-divide parts of the heath, which on the OS 1st Edition map is shown as part open heath and part plantation; the map also indicates partial enclosure of this area of the heath by the late 19th century, with some dotted lines possibly representing former field boundaries in disuse by that time (3). The features are considered likely to also be historic field boundaries of possible post medieval date, although an earlier origin is possible. They may be boundary features representing phases of enclosure of the heathland margins during the later medieval and early post medieval periods that were in disuse by the time the plantation cover developed; although this is less certain..

The site is still partially open heath and partially plantation on current Google Earth imagery and some of the features are still faintly visible, although some have been lost to modern extraction. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RP 3256-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16048.

<2> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RP 3255-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16029.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

Record last edited

Dec 7 2021 11:11AM