Monument record MDO47554 - Medieval deer park, Gillingham

(ST 830290) The boundary of a large medieval park is suggested by significantly continuous field boundaries with probable 'deer-leap' strips preserved as field-ways on the east and west boundaries. The place-names 'Forest Deer' 'Forest Side' may be significant. <1>

The alleged boundary of a deer park suggested by Authy 1 falls within the area of the former Royal Forest of Gillinham. There is no evidence of a park or enclosure boundary at this point on a map dated 1624 (a), although small enclosed portion of land (at circa ST 830287) is called 'The Lawne Rayles'. It seems likely that the boundary delineated by Authy. I may be associated with the dissafforestation of Gillingham Forest in 1628 when the land was divided into separate enclosures and fields. <3>

Perambulation along the suggested boundary produced no evidence of a Medieval earthen park pale. The western side is largely hedgerow, the northern and southern sides are modern field boundary banks with hedges, the bank nowhere found to exceed 3.5m in width and 0.5m in height. The accompanying ditch, where present, was found on either side of the bank and averaged 2.0m in width and 0.4m in depth. To the east, is the boundary bank of Mere Park. <4>

<1> Woodhouse, W C, Various, Field Investigators Comments WCW, F1 WCW 15-DEC-64 (Unpublished document). SWX3798.

<1.1> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 1336-37, 3335-36 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20361.

<1.2> Royal Air Force, 17-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2018 3117-20 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20360.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), Plate 56 (Monograph). SDO99.

Copy of Map of Gillingham Forest 1624

<4> Phillips, A S, Various, Field Investigators Comments ASP, F2 ASP 28-JUL-77 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206377 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 14 2023 4:47PM