Monument record MDO8313 - Prehistoric field system, Winfrith Newburgh

An extensive prehistoric field system is visible as cropmarks and earthworks on aerial photographs between Marley Wood and Daggers Gate (3-10). It probably is an extension of the system described in MDO8311 and was digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-19, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2433-4, 2433-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13767.

Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2434-5, 2434-41 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13820.

Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4431-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13784.

<1> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, Annotated Record Map Rec. 6 (R J C Atkinson 1 3 49) (Map). SWX2397.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Records, SY 88 SW 34 (Index). SDO131.

<3> Royal Air Force, 20-MAY-1970, RAF 58/0531 0021-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13747.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 19-APR-1982, OS/82047 482-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13803.

<5> Royal Air Force, 21-JAN-1945, RAF 106G/LA/105 2024-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13804.

<6> Royal Air Force, 07-FEB-1945, RAF 106G/LA/119 2050-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13805.

<7> Royal Air Force, 26-OCT-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1809 3028-9 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13801.

<8> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 2432-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13751.

<9> Royal Air Force, 18-FEB-1970, RAF 58/0254 0049-50 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13752.

<10> Royal Air Force, 26-AUG-1968, RAF 58/8974 0072-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13806.

<11> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, 05-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

‘Ancient field system comprising scattered field banks and pronounced lynchets in area under grass.’

<12> 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.

'(iii) Daggers Gate and Marley Bottom. 'Celtic' field remains, in the combe and on the downland to either side, are continuous for over 270 acres, from 814811, N. of Daggers Gate, to 813832 in Marley Bottom, S. of Winfrith Newburgh. They include many high lynchets, but complete original fields have all been broken down. Some field banks are packed with flint and in the combe bottom E. from 813827 there is a series of small, often circular, quarries dug into the lynchets. Most of the downland was arable on the Tithe Maps but this cannot be associated certainly with surviving narrow rig.
A track, partly double-lyncheted with tread 16 ft. wide and lower scarp 8 ft. high, runs S.E. for 600 yds. from 818829 on the E. of the block. There are faint indications of another track approaching the possible settlement area (e). A continuous boundary line, formed by a massive but ploughed-down scarp, runs S. for ½ mile from about 809827, S.W. of Marley Wood.
(e) Settlement is suggested at 815818, where surviving fields on the S.-facing slope of a dry valley are different in shape and size from most of those around. Above them to the S.W., air photographs show enclosures, one with a curved side skirted by a track from the W., on relatively flat ground. The whole covers about 3 acres. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821: 2434–41.)'

<13> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F2 NJA 27-AUG-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

‘The majority of the field system has been ploughed out. The scattered remains are spread and much reduced.’

Record last edited

Jan 5 2024 2:40PM