Monument record MDO5329 - Medieval field system, Winterborne Whitechurch

Traces of the medieval open field system of Whitechurch can be seen to the west of West Farm where there are the fragmentary remains of flat strips 30 to 60 yards wide. The date of enclosure of the open fields is not known. Fragments of parallel medieval ridge and furrow cultivation are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1947. The features partially overlie a banked field system which may be of later prehistoric origin later reused in the medieval period. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM.

Traces of the medieval open field system of Whitechurch can be seen to the west of West Farm where there are the fragmentary remains of flat strips 30 to 60 yards wide. The date of enclosure of the open fields is not known. Fragments of parallel medieval ridge and furrow cultivation are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1947 <2>. The features partially overlie a banked field system which may be of later prehistoric origin later reused in the medieval period. The features 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, 313 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘(18) CULTIVATION REMAINS. The date of the enclosure of the three open field systems in the parish is unknown. … The strip fields of Whitechurch remain in two places: to the S. of Lower Street (841990) there is a small area of ridge-and-furrow 7 yds. to 9 yds. wide, and to the W. of West Farm (837997) are the fragmentary remains of flat strips 30 yds. to 60 yds. wide, bounded by low banks.’

<2> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 V 5119 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19876.

Record last edited

Jun 16 2023 6:32PM