Monument record MDO48013 - Medieval deer park, Hilton

It has been suggested that Hilton Bottom may have been the site of a medieval deer park because field names with 'park' elements appear on the Tithe Map. Site visits have found no evidence to support this suggestion, and it is now thought to be unlikely.

Wilson, J D, 1973, The medieval deer-parks of Dorset XII; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 68 (Article in serial). SDO14059.

‘HILTON (P26). The deep and wide combe known as Hilton Bottom runs due south from Bulbarrow to Hilton village, a couple of miles north-west of Milton Abbas. Both the chalk ridges which contain the combe carry a road of some antiquity: that on the west, the present metalled road form Okeford Fitzpaine up over Bulbarrow and south to Ansty, is perhaps a branch of the prehistoric ridgeway from Salisbury Plain to the south-western peninsula. On the eastern ridge runs a bridle path called the Ice Drove, one of the roads to the medieval market town of Milton Abbas.
Two significant field names from the Tithe Map, in what seemed a favourable topographical position in the combe, caused HIlton to be added to the list of possible medieval parks. These were ‘Park Way’ just north of Manor Farm (the reader is referred to Sheet 178, 1 in. O.S. map) and ‘Park’ half a mile further north. However, examination of the area showed no signs of any embankment. In a valley bottom it is always less likely to have survived, as at Cerne, Sydling St. Nicholas, and Green Hill, but there the ridge tops too were equally unrewarding. The probability seems to be decidedly against the existence of a medieval park here, unless some clear documentary evidence comes to light.’

Record last edited

Jul 4 2024 12:54PM