Monument record MDO42979 - Iron Age/Romano-British field systems, settlement, Combe Bottom, Maiden Newton, Cattistock

Linear banks and ditches that form part of an extensive area of Iron Age/Romano-British field systems and settlement are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs in the area of Combe Botttom, Maiden Newton and Cattistock. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project.

A `Celtic' field system situated mainly on the east side of Combe Bottom inlcudes a number of hollow tracks between field banks which may indicate the close proximity of a settlement. There are further traces of cultivation to the south-east of Norden Lane. <2>

Centred SY 607988. An Iron Age/Romano-British 'Celtic'-type field system situated on downland. In the areas SY 607983, SY 610990, SY 605989 and SY 601986 are low field banks and pronounced lynchets forming rectilinear fields. A double lynchet track runs through the area SY 605989. In the area centred SY 600985 is a probable settlement, situated on the hill top and consisting of a bank and outer ditch extending from 'J' - SY 61069859 to 'K' 61029853. This feature is bounded on the north west by an abnormally close lynchet - possibly indicating the beginning of the settlement when the fields were already developed. Two linear banks with their southern terminals ploughed out are visible from 'J'-'L' (SY 61089854) and 'K'-'M' (SY 61039846). Within the area bounded by these banks are several mounds and hollows which are common to settlement sites.

Grass-covered lynchets and fieldways are visible to the north of the settlement site at SY 609987. Pronounced Medieval strip lynchets can also be seen at SY 60509888. OS 25" Survey revised. <3>

The field systems, in the areas indicated by Authy 3, are clearly defined on air photographs. The probable settlement at SY 600985 is not so pronounced, however. <8>

The hollows and mounds reported by Authority (3), possibly representing habitation sites, can no longer be traced. The only remaining elements of settlement occupy one hectare centred at SY 61029853 and consist of fragmentary banks and holloways convergingupon a probable later but now dry pond (see plan). The banks average 0.4m high and 4.5m wide, exaggerated by the incorporation of upcast in the vicinity of the pond.

The `Celtic' field system is much reduced and appears in isolated pockets. The two prominent areas are centred at SY 601986 and at SY 609987, north of the settlement. The fields average 80m by 95m with lynchets 1.6m high and banks 5.0m wide and 0.6m high in arable land. Holloways complex surveyed at 1:2500 on MSD. <9>

Settlement and associated fields near New Barn. About half the 'Celtic' fields reported in RCHM Dorset 1 (3) have been destroyed.
On the flat hill top to the north and south of New Barn are slight traces of Medieval type ridge and furrow, which have largely destroyed the earlier 'Celtic' fields there, as well as damaging the settlement. There are further traces of ridge and furrow on some of the better preserved 'Celtic' fields to the west. At a subsequent period the whole are has been divided into 'Doles' whose boundaries are still preserved as old hedge banks. SY 611985. The settlement apppears to consist of a roughly rectangular enclosure perhaps 230 ft square, but possibly larger with some form of subsidary out work to the south. It appears to have been built insidean existing 'Celtic' field, the north east and south west sides being the original field sides later ditched and embanked. The west corner has been much disturbed by construction of a large pond. From the ground remains the settlement is later than the 'Celtic' field on which it is set, and earlier than the medieval ridge and furrow which has partly destroyed it, thus suggesting an Iron Age/Romano British date. To test this a small trial hole 1 ft square was dug into one of six circular or sub rectangular scoops which may represent building sites.

Below circa 1ft of clean brown earth was a flint rubble ?floor on top of which was a quantity of Iron Age or Romano British sherds. (See plan).

SY 610990. Earthworks 250m north of the above, consisting of `Celtic'fields around a track extending uphill to a junction with a contour-hugging track, curves in which suggest the avoidance of associated features alongside it, possibly of settlement. The tracks are lynchetted and hollowed. (See plan). (7)

SY 609987. Field system and settlement site east of Combe Bottom.
Scheduled. (See illustration for scheduled area). (8-9)






Linear banks and ditches that form part of an extensive area of Iron Age/Romano-British field systems and settlement are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs in the area of Combe Botttom, Maiden Newton and Cattistock (1-6). The features appear to represent elements of a large co-axial field system, including field boundaries and trackways. Towards its southeast edge is a sub-rectilinear banked enclosure, recorded as an enclosed Iron Age farmstead (MDO42980). The farmstead enclosure and part of the field system to its northwest are a Scheduled Monument (List Entry 1002859) but these features are part of a wider area of associated features. These were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project. It is possible that some of the linear banked features include those of later, possibly medieval origin.
At its southwest corner the field system overlaps with features recorded under MDO681.

The majority of features are still visible as earthworks and cropmarks over various years of Google Earth imagery.

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 609987) British Settlement (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 153 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(15) CELTIC FIELD SYSTEM occupies the N. end of the parish. The chief remains, on the E. side of Combe Bottom, include a number of hollowed tracks between the field-banks which may indicate the near neighbourhood of a settlement. There are further traces of cultivation to the S.E. of Norden Lane.'

<3> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 13-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<4> Department of the Environment, Inspector of Ancient Monuments (IAM) Record Form, 1968 (Scheduling record). SDO17470.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 1:50,000, 1974 (Map). SWX1132.

(Centred SY 609987) Earthworks (NR) (Name at SY 608990) Field System (NR)

<6> RCHM Unpublished Revision Dorset 1 - West Undated (Unpublished document). SWX1659.

Unpublished Revision RCHM Dorset 1 - West Typescript 11.06.64 (C C Taylor) Additions & Amendments 1978 (H C Bowen)

<7> Department of the Environment, 1977, Department of the Environment (IAM) Ancient Monuments of England Vol 2 (Monograph). SWX2300.

<8> Mead, Richard, Field Investigators Comments RPM, 1979-07-12 (Unpublished document). SWX2301.

<8.1> Ordnance Survey, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 3382 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20234.

<8.2> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 1381-82 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19991.

<9> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F2 NJA 12-FEB-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<9.1> 05-SEP-1979, 79/109 74-75 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20235.

<9.2> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1902 (Map). SWX1197.

<10> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RS 4276-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16872.

<11> Royal Air Force, 20-OCT-71, RAF/39/3812 V 0208-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16873.

<12> Royal Air Force, 21-OCT-71, RAF/39/3812 V 0209-10 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16914.

<13> Royal Air Force, 11-NOV-71, RAF/39/3829 V 0039-40 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16911.

<14> Royal Air Force, 11-NOV-71, RAF/39/3829/ V 0040-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16915.

<15> Ordnance Survey, 13-APR-84, OS84024/002 V (Aerial Photograph). SDO16913.

<16> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/088 RCHME Inventory: Dorset I (West) and Revision (Unpublished document). SDO17367.

<17> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 882518 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Plan on Settlement Number 2, Maiden Newton, Dorset

<18> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF0887737 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: File - Maiden Newton. Both show the area around Combe Bottom. SY 69 NW 10, VAP 1974 3382 - 3. 6", XXX SE.Contents : Original items - 2 sketch mapsCondition : SATISFACTORYBibliographic Reference: 1) Monument (15)

<19> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB79/05047 (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN OF FIELD SYSTEM WITH VARIOUS OTHER EARTHWORKS SUGGESTING A SETTLEMENT. PROBABLY IA/RB

<20> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453063 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 30 2023 11:02AM