Monument record MDO76 - Open field system on the south side of Church Hill, Alton Pancras

Celtic fields incorporating scarps which are probably in part natural but adapted to material use. The fields have medieval strip lynchets superimposed; a grange with close was at Barcombe Farm. <2>

Visible on aerial photographs. An area of rough pasture with faint indications of field banks and lynchets above the 600 ft contour. Between the 600 ft and 500 ft contours there are pronounced natural scarps, almost gulleys, which run down the slope of the hill in NW-SE direction. These seem to have been utilized, but the general appearance of the whole area is that of an IA/RB field system. No medieval strip lynchets were observed in the vicinity. <3>

Listed as Group (41) Squarish 'Celtic' fields overlain by strip lynchets. Uphill some fields end in an arc typical of strip lynchets. See plan. <4>.

Centred ST 70400345. This Celtic field system, partly under pasture and partly under plough, remains as described, and in a fair state of preservation. Well defined on OS air photographs. <5>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

(Centred ST 7045 0346) CELTIC FIELDS (GT)

<2> RCHM Mss file (Unpublished document). SWX2467.

<2.1> Hutchins, J, 1873, The history and antiquities of the County of Dorset. Volume 4. 3rd edition, 461 (Monograph). SDO10245.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 15-SEP-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3.1> Royal Air Force, 11-APR-1947, RAF CPE/UK/1975 1041-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17440.

<4> 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. … Nothing is known of the date of enclosure of the open fields of Barcombe but remains are found in a few places .., and on the S. side of Church Hill (704034) strip fields have modified 'Celtic' fields (Group (41), p. 327).'

<5> Barrett, G, Various, Field Investigators Comments GB, F2 GB 09-OCT-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<5.1> Ordnance Survey, OS 74/058/031-32 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17444.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 882383 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME: Celtic Fields, Barcombe, Dorset. Inscription: Modified Celtic Fields, Barcombe, Group 41.Bibliographic References : 1) Pt 2, Group (41).

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB74/04559 (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN OF IA/RB FIELD SYSTEM AND MEDIEVAL LYNCHETS

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB74/04562 (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN OF IA/RB FIELD SYSTEM AND MEDIEVAL LYNCHETS

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, RCH01/096 (Index). SDO14738.

RCHME Inventory: Dorset III (Central). A large collection of archive relating to the RCHME Dorset Inventory Volume III, published in 1970. It contains field surveys and excavation archive. Parish files containing original surveys have been given child collection status.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 201949 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 21 2022 9:08AM