Monument record MDO6115 - Prehistoric field system on Handley Common and Chapel Down, Sixpenny Handley

Much of this area has been ploughed, but a few scattered lynchets are still vaguely visible up to 0.2m in height. <2>

'Celtic' fields long flattened by cultivation extend for over 2 miles along the top of a ridge, from the N edge of Handley Common SSE to Chapel Down (ST 976187 - ST 990152). They appear to be related to the settlement at Humby's Stock Coppice (ST 91 NE 20 and 56). <3>

The fields survive only poorly and are not recommended for scheduling. Ground photo with archive report. <4>

Traces of a field system of later prehistoric or Roman date on Handley Common and Chapel Down. Mostly levelled by ploughing (though in 1949 RJC Atkinson noted a few scattered lynchets "still vaguely visible" up to about 20 centimetres in height), the traces extend for over two miles along the top of a ridge, from the north edge of Handley Common south southeast to Chapel Down. They appear to be related to the settlement features visible near Humby's Stock Coppice (ST 91 NE 56). According to RCHME, to the south they also "adjoin the boundary ditches of the Iron Age and Romano-British settlement on Gussage Hill" (ST 91 SE 3). <5>

<1> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, Annotated Record Map Rec. 6 (R J C Atkinson 1 3 49) (Map). SWX2397.

(Centred ST 982172) Iron Age field system.

<2> Wrathall, Reginald, Field investigator's comments RW, F1 RW 05-APR-54 (Unpublished document). SDO18449.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 118 (Monograph). SDO129.

'Group (84): Handley Common and Chapel Down (Sixpenny Handley). ‘Celtic’ fields long flattened by cultivation extend for over 2 miles along the top of a ridge, from the N. end of Handley Common, S.S.E. to Chapel Down (976187-990152). They appear to be related to the Romano-British and probably earlier settlement at Humby’s Stock Coppice (Sixpenny Handley (20)), and on the S. they adjoin the boundary ditches of the Iron Age and Romano-British settlement on Gussage Hill (Gussage St. Michael (7)). Air photographs: F21/58RAF/1090: 0117-8; F21/58RAF/1090: 0103-5.'

<4> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, Anon, undated (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209762 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 3 2022 1:27PM