Monument record MDO42336 - Prehistoric feld system, Wynford Eagle

An extensive field system is visible as earthworks on lidar imagery extending eastwards from Wynford Wood, Wynford Eagle. It is considered likely to be of Iron Age and/or Roman origin with some reuse in the medieval period. The site was digitally plotted during the Upper Frome and Sydling Valley AIM project.

[Centred at SY 5896] Field systems plotted from air photographs. <1>

Field Systems:- taken from Air Photographs in Jany-March 1944 by R J C Atkinson. <2>

Two series of lynchets 150 to 550 yds W. of WYNFORD CHURCH. The more westerly lynchets number two on a N.E slope, and the more easterly seven in number and running across the contours. <3>

Centred at SY 58259619. A series of very large lynchets with wide terraces, following the contours and apparently superimposed upon an IA/RB field system. The lynchets are from 1.0 to 3.0m high, and situated within a pasture area. See AP CPE/UK/2475/3175. <4>

Centred at SY 584968. At A. SY 58409697 fragmentary remains of an IA/RB type field system are situated on the upper slopes of a hill. Under pasture. At B. SY 58359672, and C, SY 58479680. Pronounced Md type strip cultivations follow the contours and isolated Md lynchets are prominent along the eastern slopes of the hill in the area delineated. <5>

[Centred at SY 58009670] A poorly defined grass covered system of IA/RB type lynchets and field banks averaging 0.3m high. Occasional long and straight lynchets occur in the area, and these appear to be Md superimposition. <6>

[Area Centred at SY 58089622:A; Area Centred at SY 57409620,B.] A. This area is under grass, and has Md strip lynchets between 0.3 and 1.0m. High. The lynchets are fairly regularly spaced, and set in NW-SE, and NE-SW. directions, following the contours. There are faint traces of IA/RB type field banks and lynchets upon which the Md systems is superimposed. B. To the W. the IA/RB field system is better defined, though partly under cross, and partly grass covered. The field banks and lynchets from small irregular fields, the boundaries averaging 0.3m high. <7>

An extensive field system is visible as earthworks on lidar imagery <8> extending eastwards from Wynford Wood, Wynford Eagle. It is considered likely to be of Iron Age and/or Roman origin with some reuse in the medieval period. The site covers an area of over 100 hectares and was digitally plotted during the Upper Frome and Sydling Valley AIM project.

<1> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, spec 6 inch (RJCA 1.3.49) (Map). SWX1583.

<2> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, spec 6 inch (RJCA 1.3.49), EJs 15.3.50 (Map). SWX1583.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 270 (Monograph). SDO97.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 21-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F3 GCS 17-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<6> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F4 NVQ 10-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<7> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 23-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<8> Environment Agency, XX-XXX-2019, LIDAR Environment Agency Composite LAST RETURN (Photograph). SDO16524.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450628 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 21 2023 5:03PM