Monument record MDO4817 - Prehistoric field system, Stourpaine

Fragments of an extensive banked prehistoric field system are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery in fields to the east of Stourpaine. The system has been reused in the medieval period with integrated parallel strip fields visible.

(Centred ST 867094) To the east of Manor Farm, around ST 865094, the remains of 'Celtic' fields have been over-lain by or integrated with strip and subsequent cultivation. Extensive remains of contour strip lynchets cover some 40 acres on each side of a dry valley running E-W, from ST 863095 to ST 871092. In 1841 they were part of the open fields.

(For further remains of 'Celtic' fields in Stourpaine parish, see ST 81 SE 27). <1-2>

Fragments of an extensive banked prehistoric field system are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery in fields to the east of Stourpaine [4]. The system has been reused in the medieval period with integrated parallel strip fields visible.

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 341-342 (Monograph). SDO136.

'Group (61): Stourpaine, Iwerne Stepleton and Iwerne Courtney. 'Celtic' fields, all greatly disturbed, appear over some 150 acres of E. Stourpaine and can be just detected in the two parishes on the N.
All the fields are on Upper Chalk between 200 ft. and 500 ft. O.D. To the E. of Manor Farm, Stourpaine, ST 865094, and E. of Ash Farm, 868101 to 873100, in both instances on N.-facing valley-sides, the remains have been overlain by or integrated with strip and subsequent cultivation. E. of the second block the plough disturbance is generally later. On Stourpaine Down, around 880107, a broken pattern can be seen in a field called Horse Leys on the Tithe Map. (CPE/UK 1944: 3322-4). The only apparently complete fields here are 120 yds. Long and about 35 yds. Wide. S. of this, traces on France Down (876091) continue S. into Pimperne, again broken by strip and later cultivation (CPE/UK 1934: 2159-61).
In Iwerne Stepleton there are traces of fields N. of Everley Coppice, around 872118, and in Iwerne Courtney there are traces between Ranston Hill and Furzhill (873128 - 879129).
Air photographs: CPE/UK 1944: 2323-5'.

<2> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 4015-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17715.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205541 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<4> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Nov 23 2022 6:30PM