Monument record MDO43180 - Possible medieval or earlier lynchets, Frome St Quintin

Curvilinear lynchets of medieval or earlier date are visible as earthworks on a 1947 aerial photograph taken to the south of Frome St Quintin. The features may be medieval strip lynchets but could alternatively be features associated with a late prehistoric field system. The features were digitally plotted during the Upper Frome and Sydling Valley AIM project.

Curvilinear lynchets of medieval or earlier date are visible as earthworks on a 1947 aerial photograph taken to the south of Frome St Quintin <1>. The features comprise widely spaced curvilinear banks, broadly parallel on an E-W axis. They may be medieval strip lynchets but could alternatively be features associated with a late prehistoric field system. The features were digitally plotted during the Upper Frome and Sydling Valley AIM project. The features are still visible on Google Earth imagery.

Field systems plotted from air photographs. <2>

An area of E-W lynchets, from 0.5 to 1.5m high, under grass. These lynchets are widely spaced, and not parallel, but follow the contours. They appear to be medieval strip lynchets. The system is clearly visible on air photographs. <3>

'Celtic' field remains and possible settlement situated at (ST 597017) and covering 15 acres of the steep south-facing slope. Four rough
strip lynchets, 200 yds. long, are irregularly spaced on the hillside and are probably reduced from 'Celtic' fields. <4>

Extensive area of field system and possibly later unenclosed settlement. <5>

<1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FS 2385 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16608.

<2> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, Annotated Record Map Rec. 6 (R J C Atkinson 1 3 49) (Map). SWX2397.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 14-MAY-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, RCHM Ms File (unpublished revision of Dorset 1) (Unpublished document). SDO17382.

<5> Field Investigators Comments MCC, F2 MCC 17-FEB-1987 (Unpublished document). SDO16335.

<6> OS 74/088/225-26 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17373.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 195857 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 26 2021 4:14PM