Monument record MDO84 - Prehistoric field system at Barcombe, Alton Pancras

Modified 'celtic' fields cover 15 acres of the SW slopes of Church Hill, N.E. of Barcombe Farm. Early pattern of squarish fields have been over-laid by long fields. Evidence of ploughing probably Medieval.

Modified 'Celtic' fields cover 15 acres of the south west slope of Church Hill, north east of Barcombe Farm on chalk between 500ft and 600 feet OD. An early pattern of squarish fields have been over-laid by long field, in one case measuring 180 yards by 30 yards. Other ploughing, probably medieval, has further altered the plan.

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 327 (Monograph). SDO136.

‘GROUP (41): BARCOMBE (Alton Pancras; Plate 88). Modified 'Celtic' fields cover 15 acres of the S.W. slopes of Church Hill (ST 70200330–70690337) N.E. of Barcombe Farm on Chalk between 500 ft. and 600 ft. O.D. An early pattern of squarish fields has been overlaid by long fields, in one case measuring 180 yds. by 30 yds. Other ploughing, probably mediaeval, has further altered the plan.

Mediaeval alteration is indicated by the fact that, uphill, some fields end in an arc typical of strip lynchets and that, downhill, lynchets continue towards the valley bottom, where, although almost destroyed, there are remains of the strip fields of Barcombe (Alton Pancras (15)). Field slopes are 12° to 17½°. Downhill lynchets up to 18 ft. high have partly determined the sinuous line of the present hedge along the N. side of the bottom.

Immediately N.E. is a continuous lynchet line, up to 10 ft. high at the E., forming the edge of other cultivation which has probably destroyed former 'Celtic' field remains continuing E. towards Group (42).
Air photographs: CPE/UK 1975: 1041–2.’

Record last edited

Feb 26 2019 10:19AM