Monument record MDO7947 - Prehistoric field system on Ballard Down, Studland

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 632 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘Group (29): BALLARD DOWN (SZ 08 SW), in the parishes of Studland and Swanage. 'Celtic' fields, some with the remains of mediaeval and later ploughing, survive on Ballard Down and behind Handfast Point. The remains are in disconnected blocks, totalling about 65 acres, which may once have joined. Some have disappeared into the sea near Handfast Point. Most are fragmentary but (iii), now destroyed, was notable for its well-preserved small, almost square, fields. All the 'Celtic' fields are separated from the Romano-British buildings at Woodhouse Hill (Roman section, Studland (46)), by the mediaeval open fields. … (iii) N. slope of Ballard Down, centre (035815–039814). 'Celtic' fields covered 12 acres on a maximum slope of 19° and formerly extended in all directions. Where the fields were not square, the long axes were generally up-and-down. Areas were from 1/6 acre to ½ acre, thirteen sides being between 23 yds. And 26 yds. Lynchets were up to 8 ft. high. A double-lynchet track running diagonally S.W. up the hill was blocked at the top by a scarp 2 ft. high apparently forming the lower side of a 'Celtic' field. (See H. C. Bowen, Ancient Fields, fig. 38.)’

<2> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 119 (Index). SDO147.

‘Site lies in a field that is occasionally ploughed and in ley pasture when visited. 7/7/D.’

Record last edited

Mar 5 2018 12:29PM