Monument record MDO44650 - Medieval deer park, Thorncombe

Field names in the tithe apportionment suggest a medieval deer park may have been located in this area. No documentary evidence has been found to support this, and no earthworks likely to be the park boundary have been observed on site visits (Wilson 1977).

A medieval deer park may have been situated south-east of Thorncombe village where a steep sided little valley runs south-westwards towards Sadbarrow. Here a group of field names given in the Tithe Apportionment - Higher Park, Lower Park, Brown Park and Park Copse - suggest a medieval park. ('Park Copse' shown on OS 6" 1968 at ST 378029).

Examination of the area has shown nothing to suggest a park boundary, and no documentary evidence has been found. (1)

<1> Wilson, J D, 1980, The medieval deer-parks of Dorset XVI; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 10 (Article in serial). SDO14056.

'THORNCOMBE (P. 31). Immediately south-east of Thorncombe village a steep-sided little valley runs south-westwards towards Sadborow. Here a group of fied names given in the Tithe Apportionment, Higher Park, Lower Park, Brown Park and Park Copse, led to the inclusion of the site in the list of possible parks. Examination of the area showed nothing to suggest a park boundary, and no documentary reference to a park here has come to light.'

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 191503 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 17 2024 3:34PM