Monument record MDO49091 - Deserted medieval settlement, Forston, Charminster

An area of probable deserted medieval settlement to the north of Forston Farm, Charminster, is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery. They might be related to the medieval settlements of Forston and/or Pulston. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

An area of probable deserted medieval settlement to the north of Forston Farm, Charminster, is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs (RAF 1971) and Environment Agency lidar imagery (2021). The features comprise at least two banked closes with hollows at their western ends that might be associated with former house platforms. Additional linear banks to the east and west of these might represent former closes or associated fields. To the east of the remains are at least three areas of ridge and furrow cultivation, visible as earthworks on lidar imagery. The remains might be associated with the medieval manor and settlement of Forston, documented in association with Pulston medieval settlement (Forrest 2023).

The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

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

Royal Air Force, 27-OCT-1971, RAF/39/3817 V 83 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20943.

Forrest, Mark, xx-xx-2023, Pulston: A Deserted Medieval Village on the Dorset Chalk (Article in serial). SDO21263.

Record last edited

Nov 4 2025 11:05AM