Monument record MDO4723 - Strip lynchets, Spetisbury

Traces of the former open field system in the form of earthworks within and to the south east of Spettisbury Rings. In 1970 these earthworks were described as slight. The last parts of the open field system in the parish were enclosed in 1809. Faint traces of the medieval field system are visible as low earthworks on lidar imagery, they were digitally recorded during the Dorset Middle Stour Catchment AI&M Project.

Very fragmentary contour strip lynchets remain on the river cliff between Spetisbury village and the railway at ST 91550215 to ST 91780192. Part of this area is called 'The Hanging' on the Tithe Map of 1839. Slight traces of open fields lie to the SE of Spetisbury Rings at ST 917 017. <1-2>

Traces of the former open field system in the form of earthworks within and to the south east of Spettisbury Rings. In 1970 these earthworks were described as slight. The last parts of the open field system in the parish were enclosed in 1809. Faint traces of the medieval field system are visible as low earthworks on lidar imagery, <3> they were digitally recorded during the Dorset Middle Stour Catchment AI&M Project.

Crawford, O G S, 17-JUL-1928, Crawford 115 291V (Aerial Photograph). SDO19415.

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 246 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(29) CULTIVATION REMAINS. Two of the three open-field systems in the parish were not enclosed until 1809 (Enclosure Award D.C.R.O.). Five strip lynchets of the open fields of Spetisbury lie immediately S.E. of Home Plantation (909025). Very fragmentary contour strip lynchets of the open fields of Crawford Magna remain on the river cliff between the village and the railway (91550215-91780192); on the Tithe Map of 1839 part of these fields is called ‘The Hanging’. Other slight traces lie within Spetisbury Rings and to the S.E. (917017). Of the open fields of Middle Street no trace remains.’

<3> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209719 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 14 2023 12:07PM