Monument record MDO4452 - Shrunken medieval village of Bagber, Milton Abbas

Medieval settlement remains around Bagber Farm, in the form of earthworks of closes and house platforms. In 1970 the settlement was described as being in poor condition, and comprising at least thirteen closes on the west side of the Milborne Brook, and eight on the eastern side, with only slight traces of the house platforms visible. Earthworks associated with the medieval settlement area visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and lidar imagery, they were digitally recorded during the Upper Cerne and Piddle AIM

'Bakebere' mention in 1210 Inquisition may apply to this site but may also refer to Bagber in Sturminster Newton. <1>

Settlement remains, formerly part of Bagber, lie north of Bagber Farm (SY 807996-808992). Nothing is known of the history of the settlement, possibly because it was recorded in documents under Milton Abbas. The remains cover about 12 acres but they are in poor condition; they lie on either side of the Milborne Brook and consist of closes 20yds and 50yds wide and 70yds long, bounded by low banks. There are at least thirteen closes on the west side of the stream and eight on the east. Within the closes are slight traces of building platforms. <2>

Settlement visible on air photographs. Further earthworks (ie.closes) extend south of Bagber Farm (SY 808 992) towards the
parish boundary (at SY 809989) and probably also represent the settlement of Bagber. <3>

Remains of the closes in this area have been almost entirely destroyed by ploughing in recent years. No survey action. <4>

Earthworks associated with the medieval settlement area visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1947 <6> and lidar imagery <7>, they were digitally recorded during the Upper Cerne and Piddle AIM

<1> Fagersten, A, 1933, Place-names of Dorset, 191 (Monograph). SDO17521.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 199 (Monograph). SDO146.

'(21) SETTLEMENT REMAINS, formerly part of Bagber, lie N. of Bagber Farm (807996-808992). Nothing is known of the history of the settlement, probably because it was always recorded in documents together with Milton Abbas (see Fagersten, 191 and Hutchins IV, 340). The remains cover about 12 acres but they are in poor condition; they lie on either side of the Milborne Brook and consist of closes 20 yds. to 50 yds. wide and 70 yds. long, bounded by low banks. There are at least thirteen closes on the W. side of the stream and eight on the E. Within the closes are slight traces of building platforms'.

<3> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 2115-16 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19591.

<4> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 02-JUN-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456052 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1994, Medieval Village Research Group Index, PRN 434 (Index). SDO16386.

<6> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FS 2115 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20755.

<7> Environment Agency, 15-DEC-2023, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO20691.

Record last edited

Jul 18 2024 1:58PM