Monument record MDO4321 - Strip lynchets, south west of Breeze Hill, Melbury Abbas

A series of contour strip lynchets on the slopes south west of Breeze Hill. They are marked on the 1838 Tithe Map as 'South Field Launches'. <1> <2>

A flight of six medieval type contour following lynchets centred at ST 89151925. They extend for 600.0m around the south west end of a small spur on the south side of Melbury Down. Clearly visible on OS, air photographs. The lynchets remain well defined averaging 9.0m wide and 2.5m high, except where reduced by ploughing for about 150.0m eastwards at ST 89321920. Well pronounced ramps joining the treads, occur at ST 89051920.

Centred ST 89101905. Soil marks of ploughed-out contour lynchets of Medieval type are clearly visible immediately to the south extending along the lower north facing slope of a combe. <3>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 48 (Monograph). SDO99.

(6) CULTIVATION REMAINS. Nothing is known of the open fields of the parish. Contour strip lynchets occur S.W. of Breeze Hill at 890193, and E of Barfoot farm at 882208; the first group is marked on the tithe map of 1838 as 'South Field Launches'.

<2> Royal Air Force, 07-JAN-54, F22 58/RAF/1332 54-56 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18404.

<3> Barrett, G, Various, Field Investigators Comments GB, F1 GB 17-JAN-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<3.1> Ordnance Survey, OS/75/371 195-96 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18405.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205874 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

ST 88561946. A massive medieval type cultivation terrace rising up to 3.5 m high, and average 2.5 m wide, extends for about 100.0 m along a steep east facing combe slope. Above and below this feature are other medieval lynchets of average 1.5 m high and 12.0 m wide. All are well preserved and under pasture.

Visible on OS air photographs (a). (1)


( 1a) Aerial photograph AP (OS/75/371 194)
( 1) Field Investigators Comments F1 JWS 17-APR-75

Record last edited

Aug 14 2023 12:34PM