Monument record MDO6406 - Medieval settlement of West Hemsworth, Witchampton

Settlement recorded in Domesday Book as one of two Hemedeswordes. A number of earthwork irregularities indicative of a deserted medieval settlement. A chapel is documented there in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Earthworks of possible tofts and hollow ways are visible as earthworks on 1940s aerial photographs and on current Environment Agency lidar imagery and were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

W.A HIGHER HEMSWORTH. Anciently a manor and hamlet, now a farm, situated 3 1/2 miles NE of SHAPWICK. In the valor of 1291 it is made a distinct parish. "Here was anciently a free chapel of which there are now no remains. Mentioned in 1291 (Rectory). And in the SARUM registers it is stiled a parochial church but it was really a free chapel and as such, granted 3 EDWI to SILVESTER TAVERNER." In 1319 the King was the patron. <1>

NRHE Customer comment received September 2016: 'Just thought I would mention that another sourcet; The Free Chapel of West Hemsworth, in Dorset Chantries p59; gives the year for Silvester Taverner as '12 Apl 3 Edw VI 1549' which is a better dating description'.

At HEMSWORTH FARM, in the EWE LEAZE, are extensive irregularities on the surface which betoken ancient location. [Included as information suggestive of a medieval deserted village]. <2>

The owner of HEMSWORTH FARMS, MR P S TORY, knew nothing of the antiquity of W.HEMSWORTH.

[Area centred at ST 96590560] In the pasture field immediately north of WEST HEMSWORTH are surface irregularities such as runnets and small banks, features commonly associated with deserted villages. The entry in T.3. is inclined to support the above observations. The site of the free chapel could not be determined. <4>

Earthworks of possible tofts and hollow ways are visible as earthworks on 1940s aerial photographs and on current Environment Agency lidar imagery [8, 9]. The features include a small rectilinear platform 14m by 9m, that appears to have part of an outer ditch along its south and east sides, possibly the site of the documented medieval chapel, although this remains conjectural without supporting evidence. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

<1> Hutchins, J, 1774, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 2. 1st edition, 71-2 (Monograph). SDO9551.

<2> Shipp, W (ed), 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 3, 478 (Monograph). SWX3207.

<3> Ordnance Survey, Archaeology Office Archives Misc P/F.9.P3 NoA0304 (Index). SDO19305.

[ST 9663 0561] CHAPEL CLOSE at A.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 26-MAR-54 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1975, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume V (East), 108 (Monograph). SDO129.

The Domesday book records two Hemedeswordes (East and West Hemsworth); West Hemsworth is represented by West Building.
‘West Building, of two storeys with brick walls ornamented wit a diaper of knapped flint, and with a tiled roof, originated in the 17th century as a farm house; reduced in size, it has since been made into a pair of cottages … There is no subsequent record of population and in c.1770 when Isaac Taylor drew the estate map (D.C.R.O 1930:23,38) the site of the former settlement was called Cow Lease.’

<6> Medieval Village Research Group Archive - measured drawings (Unpublished document). SDO19306.

<7> National Record of the Historic Environment, 209270 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<8> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

<9> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 FP 1122 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19321.

Record last edited

Jan 30 2023 4:04PM