Monument record MDO7862 - Medieval deserted village of Blackmanston, Steeple.

Earthwork remains of a deserted medieval settlement are visible on aerial photographs to either side of a small stream to the south and south east of Blackmanston Farm.

Remains of medieval settlement are centred at SY 916806 in two fields divided by a stream, where are several lynchets, field banks, hollows and platform. A trial trench at SY 91638056 revealed a midden containing oyster shells and sherds of Medieval pottery, beneath which was some dry stone walling. A trench at SY 91608054 uncovered a fallen wall of loose stones, with sherds of medieval pottery and fragments of charcoal and Kimmeridge shale. <1>

Settlement remains at Blackmanston ('Blachemanestone' in Domesday) lie on either side of the Corfe river at SY 916806. <2>

Immediately south of the Farm is a flat area of about 1 acre defined on the east and south by a scarp up to 3 feet high skirted by a hollow track. At the north-east two platforms, 30 feet by 12 feet and 45 feet by 15 feet, with traces of limestone in their scarps, are inset into the scarp bounding the area. Another platform on the west has been cut by the road dividing the site from the farm buildings.

There are several other indistinct levelled areas, and sites of former closes are marked on the slope to the south by disturbed banks and ditches. On the south side of the river, 100 yards to the south-east, is an isolated platform 18 feet by 15 feet, where ashlar and rough limestone have been found. <3> <6>

The two platforms and holloways on the level ground beside the farm can still be traced; the field, which slopes steeply to the river, is regularly ploughed and cultivated.

The ditches and banks clearly visible on Aps have been almost completely ploughed out.
Minor cartographic interest; no AM action taken. <5>

Earthwork remains of a deserted medieval settlement are visible on aerial photographs to either side of a small stream to the south and south east of Blackmanston Farm <7-9>. The features are visible within four separate modern fields and were digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 17-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<2> 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.

<2.1> Royal Air Force, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 5417-18 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20183.

<3> Mills, A D, 1977, The place-names of Dorset, Part 1: the Isle of Purbeck, the hundreds of Rowbarrow, Hasler, Winfrith, Culliford Tree, Bere Regis, Barrow, Puddletown St George, 96 (Monograph). SWX972.

<4> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 187 (Index). SDO147.

‘Earthworks still discernible in a field occasionally ploughed and in ley pasture when visited. 7/7/C.’

<5> Fletcher, Martin, Field investigator's comments MJF, F2 MJF 02-MAY-86 (Unpublished document). SDO17630.

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1994, Medieval Village Research Group Index, PRN 440 (Index). SDO16386.

<7> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4232-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13486.

<8> Royal Air Force, 27-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA/200 1026-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13487.

<9> Royal Air Force, 18-JAN-1962, RAF 58/4878 (F21) 0066-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13488.

<10> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456992 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 10 2023 12:31PM