Monument record MDO5173 - Strip lynchets, Turnworth

Earthworks of a medieval field system in the form of terraces. The remains of the open field system around the village, which was finally enclosed in 1805.

Centred ST 819081. A three-field system was in existence at Turnworth in the early 14th century, and strip lynchets of open fields which were still in existence in 1805 can be seen north, east and south east (see ST 80 NW 41) of the village.

On 'The Cliff' (ST 822074 - 817084) immediately east and north of the village, are the remains of seventeen contour strip lynchets divided into four furlongs from 120-300 yards long. The strip lynchets of the northern-most furlong overlie 'Celtic' fields (see ST 80 NW 18) and to the north-east of the southernmost furlong (ST 820 079) are thirty flat strips, 8-30 yards wide and bounded by low banks. Between the upper four and lower four strip lynchets of a central furlong at ST 8190087 are the fragments of four up-and-down strip lynchets with treads 15 yards wide and risers 1ft high, their west ends are cut by the lower contour strip lynchets and clearly represent an earlier furlong, abandoned when the contour lynchets were developed. <1-2>

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 291 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(6) CULTIVATION REMAINS. A three-field system was in existence early in the 14th century (P.R.O. Assize Roll No.1368, m.7). When final enclosure took place in 1805 (D.C.R.O., Map and Award) three open fields still remained, but it is clear that much piecemeal enclosure had already occurred, especially to the W. of the village, with consequent reorganisation of the fields. The traces of former strip cultivation extend over more than 80 acres.
Strip lynchets of the open fields which were still in existence in 1805 are seen N.E. and S.E. of the village. In ‘North Field’, immediately E. and N. of (3), on ‘The Cliff’ (822074-817084), the remains of seventeen contour strip lynchets are divided into four furlongs from 120 yds. to 300 yds. long. The strip lynchets of the northernmost furlong overlie ‘Celtic’ fields (Group (56)); to the N.E. of the southernmost furlong (820079) are thirty flat strips, oriented N.E.-S.W., 8 yds. to 30 yds. wide and bounded by low banks; between the upper four and the lower four strip lynchets of one of the central furlongs (80900807), on a steep slope, are the fragmentary remains of four up-and-down strip lynchets with treads 15 yds. wide and risers 1 ft. high; their W. ends are cut by the lower contour strip lynchets and they clearly represent an earlier furlong, abandoned when the contour strip lynchets were developed. In ‘Lower Field’, S.E. of the village, are the fragmentary remains of three contour strip lynchets (around 827070), with risers still standing up to 8 ft. high.
Strip lynchets and ridge-and-furrow of former open fields that had been enclosed before 1805 are found W. of the village. In ‘The Park’ (817079 and 816081) and E. of Brockham (818069), ploughed-out contour strip lynchets run into ‘Celtic’ fields (Group (56)) on the W.; in Lines Dean Bottom (818076) are two blocks of contour and cross-contour strip lynchets, up to 250 yds. long; to the S. of Lines Dean Bottom (around 816074) 30 acres of ridge-and-furrow, 7 yds. wide, are arranged in five butting furlongs, a typical open field lay-out. The last mentioned has been reploughed into three-yard narrow-rig by splitting each original ridge into two, probably in the 18th or 19th century.’

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 4168-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17770.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205608 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:35PM