Monument record MDO5463 - Deserted settlement north west of Mountain Clump, Corfe Mullen

A deserted mediaeval settlement visible as earthworks and comprising a hollow way with house platforms on either side. Earthworks associated with the deserted settlement and a probable area of medieval ridge and furrow/strip field are visible on 1940's aerial photographs and current Environment Agency lidar imagery and were digitally plotted using these sources during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

A deserted Medieval settlement northwest of Mountain Clump (SY 97439739), now under pasture, survives as a sunken way running east-west, with platforms representing house-sites on either side. (Nothing shown on OS 1" 1811). <1>

An area of medieval type desertion, centred at SY 97269758, on a steep west slope. It now covers 1.2 haa., possibly half the original size, since there are traces in arable to the south and further irregularities 30 metres to the east in a pasture field. The primary feature is a sunken track up to 14.0 metres wide overall and 1.3 metres deep in the west part and which narrows and fades on the higher ground to the east (see plan).

A number of levelled enclosure from 0.1 metres to 0.8 metres high, and averaging 35 by 25 metres occur to each side of the trackway. No house sites can be identified with certainty though two or three platforms about 8.0 metres square may be representative.

The area is currently under pasture and the remains are in fair condition, but the farmer says it has been ploughed in recent years. <2>

Surveyed on MSD at 1:2500. The site was surveyed by staff of RCHME in 1989, for further information see archive collection. <3> <4>

Earthworks associated with the deserted settlement and a probable area of medieval ridge and furrow/strip field are visible on 1940s aerial photographs and current Environment Agency lidar imagery <10> <11>. The earthworks form a three or four possible house platforms around a sunken hollow way. Additional ditched and banked linear earthworks to the north, east and south are thought likely to be field boundaries associated with the settlement, to the south these have the character of a possible area of medieval strip field. Areas of probable medieval ridge and furrow cultivation are also visible on 1940s aerial photographs <10>. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Department of the Environment, Inspector of Ancient Monuments (IAM) Record Form, 6.4.77 (Scheduling record). SDO17470.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 26-JAN-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Riley, H, Field Investigators Comments: Hazel Riley, 1989 (Unpublished document). SDO17469.

<4> Riley, H, 1992, Corfe Mullen Survey (Unpublished document). SDO14371.

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AF0888876 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME Salisbury surveyed the undated mound at the request of Dorset County Council, to aid in assessing damage to the site after the 1990 storms.Contents : 4 plans, report, computer input sheet, correspondence, booklet, research materialCondition : INTACT

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 888881 (Index). SDO14738.

Corfe Mullen Mountain Clump and deserted village/ink survey

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 888887 (Index). SDO14738.

Corfe Mullen DMV/pencil survey

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457193 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<10> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 V 5141 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19467.

<11> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Jun 7 2024 3:17PM