Monument record MDO72 - Medieval open field system, Rake Bottom, Alton Pancras

Approximately 45 acres of strip lynchets in end-on and interlocking furlongs. Remains of the open field system of Alton Pancras. A wide extent of curvilinear banked lynchets and field boundaries are visible as earthworks to the west of Alton Pancras on 1940s aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project.

To the west of Alton Pancras village, on both sides of Rake Bottom, around ST 690022 ("B"), are some 45 acres of strip lynchets arranged in end-on and interlocking furlongs. On the west they run into an area of 'Celtic' fields (ST 60 SE 51). <1>

'A'. An area of medieval strip lynchets, partly superimposed on an IA/RB field system. 'B' The lynchets centred at ST 694025, are from 0.5m to 1.5m high and under grass. 'C' Regularly spaced strip lynchets, centred at ST 699021 and aligned east-west, averaging 1.0m high and under grass. <2>

No change. Generally poor, reduced by ploughing. <3>

A wide extent of curvilinear banked lynchets and field boundaries are visible as earthworks to the west of Alton Pancras on 1940s aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar imagery. They are considered to be medieval strip lynchets associated with an area of former medieval open field. At the western end, towards the edges of the higher ground, they merge with parts of a later prehistoric field system recorded under MDO48377 and MDO87. The features were digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Cerne and Piddle Valleys AIM project. <5, 6, 7>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 3-4 (Monograph). SDO146.

‘(15) CULTIVATION REMAINS. The open fields of Alton Pancras still existed in 1724 (Survey of Manors of Alton Pancras, 1724, D.C.R.O.) but were all enclosed by 1741 (Court Book of Alton Pancras, 1741–1865, D.C.R.O.), presumably by agreement as there is no Parliamentary Act of Enclosure. Remains exist in three places. To the W. of the village, on both sides of Rake Bottom (around 690022), are some 45 acres of strip lynchets arranged in end-on and interlocking furlongs; on the W. these run into 'Celtic' fields (Group (38), p. 326).’

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 12-FEB-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 4369-70 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18834.

<3> Phillips, A S, Various, Field Investigators Comments ASP, F2 ASP 15-JUL-77 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 199062 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<5> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 FP 1043 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20727.

<6> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 RS 4370 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20851.

<7> Environment Agency, 16-NOV-2021, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO18034.

Record last edited

Aug 8 2024 12:16PM