Monument record MDO41543 - Probable post medieval field boundaries and narrow ridge and furrow, Corfe Mullen

Areas of ridged and ditched cultivation marks at Corfe Mullen are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. The features are considered likely to be those of post medieval narrow ridge and furrow. Additional banked and ditched linear features dividing the areas of cultivation are also visible and are presumed to be historic field boundaries, also probably of post medieval origin. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

Areas of ridged and ditched cultivation marks at Corfe Mullen are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1-2).

The features comprise areas of parallel ridges set between 3m and 5m apart, with approximately 1m wide ditches in between. The cultivation marks are predominantly straight and regular, although an area on the northeast side have more of a curve to them and appear slightly less regular in form.

The cultivation marks occupy an area rec orded as rough ground on the OS 1st Edition map, suggesting the cultivation may be due to post medieval or later intake (3). A number of ditched and banked rectilinear features are also visible on aerial photographs (1-2). These divide and border the areas of cultivation and their straight regular character suggests historic field boudaries of probable post medieval date. The cultivation marks are considered likely to be those of post medieval narrow ridge and furrow, although an earlier date for the northeastern area of cultivation is possible.

The site is still open ground on current Google Earth imagery and some of the features, including some of the cultivation ridges, are still visible. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

<1> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RS 4249-50 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16185.

<2> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RS 4083-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16186.

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

Record last edited

Aug 31 2018 10:03AM