Monument record MDO7775 - Fishpond, Lytchett Matravers

Earthworks associated with a probale fishpond within the extent of a deserted medieval settlement to the south of Lytchett Matravers are visible on 1940s aerial photographs and were digitally plotted from these during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project.

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 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 a probable fishpond within the extent of a deserted medieval settlement to the south of Lytchett Matravers are visible on 1940s aerial photographs <4>and were digitally plotted from these during the Dorset Middle Stour AIM project. The fishpond borders a possible medieval hollow way, part of a deserted medieval settlement recorded under MDO7774/. The detail on an aerial photograph of 1947 is indistinct but the feature appears to encompass an area roughly 60m by 30m in size. It is uncertain whether the fishpond is contemporay with the medieval settlement or a later feature.

<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.

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 Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 14-MAY-81 (Unpublished document).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

<2.1> 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> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<4> Royal Air Force, 17-JAN-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1934 RP 3202 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20051.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457347 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 10 2023 8:39PM