Monument record MDO7774 - Medieval settlement, Lytchett Matravers

Earthworks associated with the deserted medieval settlement are visible on 1940s aerial photographs and were digitally plotted from these during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project. The earthworks principally occupy two historic fields to the south of the parish church but potentially extend northwest and southeast into the adjacent fields. Further linear earthworks, most likely field boundaries of probable medieval to post date are also visible in proximity to the deserted settlement and are recorded separately under MDO 46970.

Cropmarks on air photographs show the major part of the settlement to have occupied 2.0 ha., centred at SY 93619599, crossed by a sinuous hollow way bifurcating at the north end (see plan), the remains of which are ploughed out. In the 2.0 ha. Field to the west, centred at SY 93509590, are fragmentary closes generally as described by RCHME <1>. The building platform at SY 93529595 is mostly preserved though the surrounding ditch is now merely a cropmark.

The fields are separated by the flat bottomed 'hollow way' noted by Authy 1. If this was a route its destination can only be surmised, for it is mutilated at the north end where it now terminates abruptly. It increases in depth from 0.5 metres at the south end to 2.0 metres at the north where a large earth dam was clearly intended to create a long north to south pond, now drained. Parallel to the east side and at a higher level, is a series of dry ponds linked by a leat with by-pass or overflow systems which emptied into the long pond.

The probable purpose of the complex is fishponds, but the date is uncertain and apart from a possible "Park" association found in the Tithe Award (d) no documentary reference could be found. The area is portrayed as woodland on the 2" drawing and on the Tithe Map, though this depicts the large upper pond at SY 93579597. There is no evidence on the maps or on the ground of the initial water source, which must have come from somewhere to the south. Earthworks surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <2>

Earthworks associated with the deserted medieval settlement are visible on 1940s aerial photographs <4-6> and were digitally plotted from these during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

The earthworks principally occupy two historic fields to the south of the parish church but potentially extend northwest and southeast into the adjacent fields. The two principal fields are divided by a wide 'hollow way' potentially later modified to create a series of fishponds (and see NRHE Hob UID 457347). The southwesternmost of the two main fields contains the remains of a sub-rectilinear house platform, comprising a 25m by 22m wide bank and a surrounding ditch, which appears to extend as a possible pathway within further linear earthworks. This field appears to contain the best preserved earthworks, many of which are still visible on current Google Earth imagery <7>.

Overall, the earthworks potentially comprise the remains of further tofts, trackways and field boundaries. Beyond the principal hub of the deserted settlement are further linear earthworks, most likely field boundaries of probable medieval to post date, which are recorded separately under MDO46970.

Addison, P, and Maynard, D, 1989, Observations on the Purbeck to Southampton Pipeline. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 122-124 (Article in serial). SWX8683.

‘Plot 57.1 SY 93469623. A scatter of animal bones and several artefacts were recovered from an area downslope, and to the west of St. Mary’s church. The finds came from a discrete area but were not associated with any features. They comprised – one extremely worn silver threepenny bit or groat of Elizabeth, four, worn, bronze farthings of Charles II, minted either between 1672-5 or in 1679 and a copper-alloy belt buckle (Plate 1). The suggested time of loss for the coins and, presumably, the buckle is between circa 1700-1710. The buckle is flat, with incised decoration. Part of the central pin arrangement survives. These ‘spectacle’ buckles are a long-lived type, found from at least as early as the 14th century but continuing into the 18th century.’

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 157 (Monograph). SDO148.

‘(34) Settlement Remains, formerly part of Lytchett Matravers village (936961 and 937957), cover some 12 acres immediately S. of the isolated St. Mary's church. The greater part, in the field nearest the church, has been disturbed by ploughing; scattered pottery includes coarse mediaeval and later wares. The present village is more than ⅓ mile away.
A hollow-way, now marshy, runs through the long coppice continuing the line of the present road from the S., which now turns W. 350 yds. S. of the church. W. of the coppice, in pasture, is the only well-preserved house platform (93529593), a rectangle 96 ft. by 48 ft., scarped on all sides to a maximum height of about 3 ft. A narrow ditch seems to have enclosed it, possibly broken at the S.E. angle by a causeway. The platform appears to have been divided into two with the S. half slightly dished and defined by very slight banks. Traces of two, possibly of three, other platforms occur in the same field immediately N. of the road to Peaton's Farm. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1934: 2137–8.)’

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 14-MAY-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2.2> Ordnance Survey, OS 80/021/208-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20112.

<2.2> Ordnance Survey, 1805-6, Ordnance Survey 2" Drawing 1805-6 (Map). SDO18237.

<2.3> 1839, Lytchett Matravers Tithe Map (Map). SDO19198.

<3> Allum, C, 2007, Peaton's Lane, Lytchett Matravers, Dorset. An Archaeological Field Evaluation and Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SDO15162.

<4> Royal Air Force, 05-MAR-1945, RAF/106G/LA/163 3075 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20053.

<5> Royal Air Force, 05-MAR-1945, RAF/106G/LA/163 RP 3074 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19968.

<6> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 RP 3202 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20051.

<7> Google Earth, 01/01/2022, Google Earth 2022 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18611.

<8> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457347 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 26 2024 9:51AM