Monument record MDO7881 - Prehistoric field system, Creech and Grange Hill, Steeple

(SY 900817) Very faint and disturbed traces of 'Celtic' fields occur as banks or slight scarps for about a mile along the ridge of the Purbeck hills, from SY 893818 to SY 905816. There are no complete fields, and lynchets are generally low. Fragmentary low banks of uncertain date, some ditched, run against the south slope. <1>

The celtic fields evident on the RAF APs have been ploughed down and in some cases effaced. The area delimited on the record sheet SY 98 SW can be divided into three parts:

Area centred SY 90258175. Five hectares of arable land situated on the crest of the ridge. Widely spaced and parallel linear earthen banks now up to 0.3m high are evident under standing crop on the slight north-facing slope.

Area centred SY 90338165. Circa 4.5 hectres of the ridge top; now a turf-covered car park and recreation area. No surface evidence of a field system.

Area centred SY 90158160. Six hectares of very steep south- facing slopes covered by tall grass and gorse vegetation. A few vague banks, some lynchets and terracettes, along with slumping and waste from adjacent road quarries occupy the area.<3>

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 629 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘GROUP (18): W. CREECH AND GRANGE HILL (SY 88 SE, 98 SW; 893818–905816), in Steeple parish. Very faint and disturbed traces of 'Celtic' fields occur as banks or slight scarps for about a mile along the ridge of the Purbeck Hills, N. of it at the W. end of this area, and S. of it at the E. There are no complete fields. Lynchets are generally low. Fragmentary low banks, some ditched, of uncertain date, run against the S. slope at up to 24°. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821: 2419–20.)’

<2> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 204 (Index). SDO147.

‘Traces of Celtic fields on chalk ridge, permanent pasture colonized by low shrubs. 7/7/C.’

<3> Fletcher, Martin, Field investigator's comments MJF, F1 MJF 30-APR-86 (Unpublished document). SDO17630.

<3.1> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2419-20 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13727.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 457104 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 23 2023 12:41PM