Monument record MDO5039 - Shrunken village, Tarrant Launceston

Medieval settlement remains around the present village, on both sides of the river, and consisting of closes defined by low banks and scarps, with traces of house platforms. Linear banked earthworks thought likely to be medieval settlement remains are visible on 1940s aerial photographs, with some still surviving and visible on current Environment Agency lidar imagery. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

Settlement remains occur on both sides of the Tarrant, in and around the village. Other closes and a hollow-way on the E bank of the Tarrant have now gone. <1>

Part of the Medieval and Post Medieval shrunken village of Tarrant Launceston is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. The site is centred at ST 9420 0970 and extends over an area that measures 195m long by a maximum of 115m wide on the eastern bank of the river Tarrant. The site comprises a group of small probable housing plots or tofts at the north-eastern corner, beside the road at ST 9421 0978, plus assorted angular and more sinuous linear banks to their south which may define closes or crofts between the river and the road. Additional and probably contemporary settlement remains are located on the west bank of the river Tarrant. <2>

Part of the Medieval and Post Medieval settlement of Tarrant Launceston is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. The site is centred at ST 9400 0967 and extends over an area that measures 165m long by 90m wide but probably continues northwards to the chapel of ease (see ST 90 NW 12 / UID: 209338). The earthworks comprise two toft boundaries, a row of building platforms and several amorphous chalk pits which confuse the pattern of the shrunken village. Additional and probably contemporary settlement remains are located on the east bank of the river Tarrant, beyond the water meadows.

The two toft boundaries comprise linear banks which extend perpendicularly to the river, between ST 9395 0968 and ST 9400 0970 and ST 9397 0958 and ST 9405 0960. A group of narrow linear banks in perpendicular patterns suggest a row of buildings measuring 5m wide; they extend between ST 9397 0972 and ST 9400 0973. Amorphous and linear extractive pits are irregularly dispersed throughout the area. They were probably dug for chalk after that part of the settlement went out of use. <4-5>

Linear banked earthworks thought likely to be medieval settlement remains are visible on 1940s aerial photographs [2], with some still surviving and visible on current Environment Agency lidar imagery [3]. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 107 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(13) Settlement Remains (939098-940096) occur on both sides of the Tarrant, in and around the village; although damaged by quarrying and drainage ditches, they cover about 6 acres on the W. bank of the Tarrant. At least 5 closes are found, 30 yds. wide and 30 yds. to 60 yds. long, bounded by low banks and scarps, with traces of building platforms up to 40 ft. by 25 ft. cut into the slope of the valley. Low banks and mounds of uncertain origin occur on the floodplain to the E. Other closes and a hollow-way on the E. bank of the Tarrant have now gone (R.A.F., V.A.P., CPE/UK 1939 : 2152).'

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FS 2152 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18054.

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

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1481204 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1481211 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1481211 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2023 3:51PM