Monument record MDO41465 - Possible historic hollow way, Henbury Manor Farm, Sturminster Marshall

A substantial scarped linear feature to the southeast of Henbury Manor Farm is visible on aerial photographs and current Lidar imagery. The feature is considered likely to be a historic trackway, possibly a medieval hollow way. An alternative to this, although of lower confidence, is a former drive associated with Higher Henbury House, probably post medieval in that instance and potentially fallen into disuse due to later re-landscaping. The feature was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project. A continuation of this feature where it appears to turn to head southeast was digitally plotted by the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project from Environment Agency lidar imagery.

A substantial scarped linear feature to the southeast of Henbury Manor Farm is visible on aerial photographs and current Lidar imagery (1-4).

The feature extends southeast from the southeast boundary line of Higher Henbury House as shown on the OS 1st Edition map (5). It comprises a ditched linear flanked by scarped sides; possible banks are faintly visible on current Lidar imagery (4). To the northwest the feature aligns with the tree-lined approach to Higher Henbury House as recorded on the OS 1st Edition map (5). It is possible they are both sections of an earlier trackway or hollow way that was incorporated into the layout of higher Henbury House. The form of the feature suggests a possible hollow way of likely medieval origin. Alternatively, it is possible the feature is of later date, perhaps an approach or drive to the house that went into disuse following re-landscaping; this would suggest a post medieval date in this instance but there is lower confidence in this interpretation. The feature appears to be overlain at its northern end by a ditched linear feature (see MDO41459), which may be part of a historic field boundary (of medieval to post medieval date) but may alternatively be a historic trackway, probably of post medieval origin.

The feature is still visible on current Google Earth imagery. It was digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.
A continuation of this feature where it appears to turn to head southeast was digitally plotted by the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project from Environment Agency lidar imagery [4].

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RP 3245-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16134.

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-47, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 V 5197-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16136.

<3> BKS Surveys Ltd, 07-FEB-68, BKS/3161 V 629400-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16138.

<4> Environment Agency, XX-XXX-2015, Environment Agency DTM Lidar 50cm (Aerial Photograph). SDO15306.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

Record last edited

Mar 16 2023 10:49AM