Monument record MDO7738 - Medieval field system, Langton Matravers

Pronounced strip lynchets in areas centred SZ 007807; SZ 010805; SZ 006805 and SZ 007802. <1>

SZ 004808. Extensive remains of Medieval strip fields around Knitson, lying within an area of 90 acres to the east and south east have now been largely destroyed but appear on air photographs. (a). Knitson is first documented in 1318, and in 1774 is described as a hamlet in Afflington tithing. Contour strip lynchets with the tread still cultivated, partly survive north east of Knitson Farm; they are arranged in furlongs along a slope, butting against others to the east. To the south east of the farm, strips ran north-south down the slope, at the south end of which (near SZ 005802) they were from about 10-25 yards wide, divided by low banks. All the strips except this last block tally with the pattern of furlongs in the 'Common Field' on theh 1841 Tithe Map. A funnel-mouthed drove-way runs north throughthe settlement to Nine Barrow Down and south as a holloway to former pasture some 350 yards south east of the farm. <3>

The strip-lynchets to the E of Knitson Farm (area centred SZ 00658082) occupy appx. 2 ha of a fairly gentle S facing slope immediately below the steep E-W ridge of Nine Barrow Down. This group, the sole survivors of note of those seen by RCHM in 1970, comprises 3 N-S strips and 3 E-W. The latter have recently been ploughed and the fences removed suggesting that they are likely to suffer from increasingly intensive cultivation. The lynchet-like feature along the N boundary of the block is mainly build-up from the trackway above it; with the steep hillside rising immediately above it it could never have been a riser but here and there one fancies one can recognise the vestigial remains of a native lynchet. Part cultivated, part disturbed grassland. In good condition. 90m OD. The owner/occupier is Mr Hickson, Knitson Farm, Langton Matravers. Surveyed at 1:1250/1:2500. <4>

A system of medieval strip lynchets are located between Knitson and Windmill Knap. The narrow, linear, banks are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s. The field system is visible over an area measuring approximately 710 m by 650 m, covering areas also described in records MDO7740, MDO7741 and MDO8029 and the Scheduled area (National ref 1019950) to the east of Knitson, where the field boundaries survive as earthworks on the most recent photographic coverage available to the project. The earthworks consist of linear banks and ditches, oriented south west-north east and north-south. A block of ridge and furrow, with ridges oriented approximately north-south, (1-2) These features were digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 09-AUG-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(Centred SZ 007807) Field System (NR)

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1 (Monograph). SDO148.

‘(40) Strip Fields around Knitson (004808), a settlement first recorded in 1318 (Fägersten, 123) which lies just over 1¼ miles N.N.E. of St. George's church, Langton Matravers (1). In 1774 Knitson was described as 'an hamlet and little farm in Afflington tithing' (Hutchins, 1st ed. I, 214).
Extensive remains of strip fields lying within an area of 90 acres to the E. and S.E. have now been largely destroyed, but many appear on vertical air photographs. Contour strip lynchets with the treads cultivated still partly survive N.E. of the farm (Monument 8); they are arranged in furlongs along a slope of some 10°, butting against others to the E. running directly against a slope of 18°. Risers are up to 6 ft. high. To the S.E. of the farm, strips ran N.-S. down an 8° slope, at the S. end of which (near 005802) they were from about 10 yds. to 25 yds. wide, divided by low banks. All the strips except this last block, which must have lain outside the bounds of the then open field, tally with the pattern of furlongs in the 'Common Field' on the Tithe Map of 1841. A funnelmouthed droveway runs N. through the settlement to Nine Barrow Down and S., as a hollow-way, to former pasture some 350 yds. S.E. of the farm. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821: 2399.)’

<3.1> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2399-2400 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13580.

<4> Woodhouse, W C, Various, Field Investigators Comments WCW, F2 CW 22-OCT-85 (Unpublished document). SWX3798.

<5> Royal Air Force, 20-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA187 4003-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13430.

<6> English Heritage, 18-NOV-2006, NMR SZ 0080/1-7 NMR 24138/24, 27, 30-333 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13431.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 621792 (Index). SDO14738.

Knitson Farm strip lynchets, Dorset/ink survey. RCHME ?Purbeck OS Block?

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, AF1001645 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

RCHME: Exeter OS Sweeps. A miscellaneous collection of surveys carried out by RCHME Exeter as part of OS sweeps.Contents : 25 plansCondition : INTACT

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457555 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 13 2024 11:08AM