Monument record MDO7859 - Medieval settlement remains at Lutton, Steeple

SY 901809 Settlement remains at Lutton, "anciently a manor and hamlet", cover some 5 acres near the deserted farm. At least three house platforms stand out dry from water-logged surroundings in two small areas. Traces of broad and narrow rig remains to the south. <1>

The farmhouse, outbuildings and two dwellings were abandoned when the army purchased the land for live firing training circa 1939.
Most of the structures are overgrown and in an advanced state of decay. The rectangular shaped earthworks visible on APs to the north of the farmbuildings (SY 90148104) have been ploughed down and spread; very little is evident under crop. They were probably small plots linked by a path or track.

The majority of the marks visible on APs to the south (SY 90208094) are formed by water-action however one, possibly two, platforms can be identified against an overgrown hedgerow. The broad rig is difficult to discern in the fields under mowing grass. No survey action: minor OS map value. <3>

Earthworks associated with the medieval settlement at Lutton were digitally plotted from aerial photographs during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project <6-7>. The settlement has been deserted since the military took over the land for live firing training in 1939.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 273 (Monograph). SDO149.

<2> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 183 (Index). SDO147.

‘The site lies in rough grass in paddocks surrounding the deserted farm buildings of Lutton. Fields in ley pasture lie beyond. 7/7/B.’

<3> Fletcher, Martin, Field investigator's comments MJF, F1 MJF 01-MAY-86 (Unpublished document). SDO17630.

<4> AC Archaeology, 1995, An Archaeological Field Evaluation of the Proposed Site of a New Agricultural Building at Lutton Farm, Steeple, Dorset, (SY 90108105) (Unpublished document). SWX8494.

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<6> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4234-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13471.

<7> Royal Air Force, 27-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA/200 1028-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13472.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457076 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 23 2023 11:21AM