Monument record MDO41401 - Possible medieval field boundaries, West Parley

Banked linear features at West Parley are visible on aerial photographs and current Lidar imagery. The features may be historic field boundaries, possibly medieval in origin, although they could potentially be earlier in date, possibly of late prehistoric origin. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

Banked linear features at West Parley are visible on aerial photographs and current Lidar imagery (1 -3).

The features are broad and curviilinear in form. They correspond and align with adjacent historic field boundaries recorded on the OS 1st Edition map whose character suggest a possible medieval origin (4). The two northernmost linear features run parallel to and between 15m and 35m distant from historic field boundaries to their north and south (1-2). The two southernmost features correspond with historic field boundaries shown on the OS 1st Edition map but their broad form indicate possible pre-existing boundaries that pre-date these (3). The features run parallel and perpendicular to each other on a southwest to northeast, suggesting correlation with each other. The alignment is that of the historic pattern of enclosure and the features are presumed to also be field boundaries, possibly of medieval origin. Alternatively, it is also possible that some or all of the features may be earlier in date, possibly late prehistoric in origin.

The site is still predominantly open fields on current Google Earth imagery but with some modern development in the north of the site. The features in that area are no longer visible, although the features in the south of the site are evident on current Lidar imagery (3).. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

<1> Royal Air Force, 20-OCT-47, RAF/CPE/UK/2370 V 5221-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16124.

<2> Royal Air Force, 26-MAR-48, RAF/CPE/UK 2548 V 5100-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16125.

<3> XX-XXX-2015, Environment Agency DTM Lidar 1m (Aerial Photograph). SDO15442.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

Record last edited

Aug 20 2018 9:48AM