Monument record MDO5250 - Medieval settlement remains, the hamlet of Muston, Winterborne Kingston

Earthworks of the remains of a medieval settlement, the hamlet of Winterborne Muston. Muston is derived from the family name de Muster, first linked to Winterborne in 1242. Bank and ditched features are visible as cropmarks and earthworks on aerial photographs and lidar imagery to the east and west of Muston Farm. The features include fragments of a field system as well as less coherant mounds to the west of the modern farm. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM.

SY 871976. Settlement remains of the former hamlet of Winterborne Muston are found near Muston Farm consisting of about 3 acres of very disturbed scarps and banks, forming no coherent pattern except for a small enclosure immediately east of the farm. The enclosure is a rough rectangle, 40yds by 25yds and is bounded by low banks. <1>

(SY 872976). Winterbourne Muston was possibly one of the 'Winterbornes' mentioned in Domesday 1086. The affix 'Muston' is from the family name of 'de Muster', first mentioned in conjunction
with Winterborne in 1242. <2>

Area of indistinct earthworks and ground disturbances at SY 871977 is probably associated with the former settlement. <3>

The settlement remains described by authority (1), are no longer discernible. Modern buildings now occupy the land immediately east of the farm.

The area delineated by authority (3), includes a former chalk pit with numerous shallow surface diggings surrounding the pit, but no evidence of settlement. <4>

Bank and ditched features are visible as cropmarks and earthworks on aerial photographs and lidar imagery to the east and west of Muston Farm <7-8>. The features cover an area of over 20 hectares and include fragments of a field system as well as less coherant mounds to the west of the modern farm. They were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM.

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 203 (Monograph). SDO136.

'(19) Settlement Remains (871976) of the former hamlet of Winterborne Muston are found near Muston Farm; they consist of about 3 acres of very disturbed scarps and banks, and form no coherent pattern except for a small enclosure immediately E. of the farm. The enclosure is a rough rectangle, 40 yds. by 25 yds. and is bounded by low banks.'

<2> Mills, A D, 1977, The place-names of Dorset, Part 1: the Isle of Purbeck, the hundreds of Rowbarrow, Hasler, Winfrith, Culliford Tree, Bere Regis, Barrow, Puddletown St George, 284-5 (Monograph). SWX972.

<3> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 2125-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19643.

<4> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F1 NJA 02-JUN-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1994, Medieval Village Research Group Index, PRN 468 (Index). SDO16386.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455808 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<7> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

<8> Next Perspectives, 21-AUG-2001, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery (Aerial Photograph). SDO19893.

Record last edited

Jun 22 2023 8:22PM