Monument record MDO5326 - Lynchets, Winterborne Whitechurch

Traces of the medieval open field system of Whatcombe can be seen south east of Whatcombe Farm, in the form of at least ten contour strip lynchets. The date of enclosure of the fields is not known. The remains of the medieval field system are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and lidar imagery and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM.

(Centred ST 842015) The fragmentary remains of strip lynchets occur NE and SE of Whatcombe Farm, around ST 840020 and ST 842015, and along the sides of a dry combe east of Lower Whatcombe (ST 845013). <1-2>
The remains of the medieval field system are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and lidar imagery <4-3> and was 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, 313 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(18) CULTIVATION REMAINS. The date of the enclosure of the three open field systems in the parish is unknown. Strip fields of Whatcombe remain in two places: on either side of the Winterborne brook and around Higher Whatcombe. … N.E. and S.E. of Whatcombe Farm (840020 and 842015) are the fragmentary remains of at least ten strip lynchets.’

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 1089-90 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17832.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205785 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

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

<5> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FP 1140 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19773.

Record last edited

Apr 25 2023 11:10AM