Monument record MDO44824 - Prehistoric field system, Alton Pancras

Centred at ST 68120342. An area of rather poorly defined field banks and lynchets of IA/RB type, almost entirely under rough pasture. Medieval strip lynchets fall into two groups, 'A' and 'B'.

'A' centred at ST 68750376. Fairly pronounced east-west strip lynchets which are parallel and follow the contours, but are irregularly spaced.
'B' centred at ST 68270355. Pronounced NE-SW lynchets which form five parallel but irregularly spaced terraces. There may have been two short north-south lynchets centred at ST 68510334 but these have been virtually destroyed. <1>

Celtic fields south of Barne's Lane considerably disturbed by chalk pits, strip lynchets and ploughing of uncertain age. The lynchets are up to 6ft high. Romano-British pottery and tiles have been found scattered around. <2>

The Celtic field system has been reduced to a few small areas of about six hectares each. Around ST 68220335 are square Celtic fields of approximately 0.12 hectares (40.0m x 30.0m) bounded by negative lynchets up to 0.7m high. Around ST 68440380 the fields are square and of 0.2 hectares (40.0m x 50.0m) approximately, with flint and earth banks and lynchets 0.2m high. The lynchets within the areas 'A' and 'B' (2) have been ploughed out. <3>

<1> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 15-SEP-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<1.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 1044-45 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18831.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 326 (Monograph). SDO146.

<3> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F2 NJA 28-OCT-76 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 198927 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 8 2024 2:00PM