Monument record MWX4704 - Medieval strip fields overlying a Celtic field system, South Egliston, Tyneham

Parallel strip lynchets are visible as low earthworks on aerial photographs and lidar to the east of South Egliston. They are considered to be the remains of a medieval field system overlying earlier Celtic fields.

Strip fields seen on a 1970s AP. <2>

Parallel strip lynchets are visible as low earthworks on aerial photographs <3-4> and lidar imagery <5-6> to the east of South Egliston. They are considered likely to be the remains of a medieval field system overlying earlier Celtic fields. This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 303 (Monograph). SDO149.

'(12) Strip Fields, probably belonging to South Egliston, occur in two groups.

(a) Strip lynchets (891797 to 897793) cover about 35 acres on the slopes of Tyneham Cap and S. of it. Three are 7 yds. to 30 yds. wide with risers 4 ft. to 18 ft. high; the lowest, curving N.W., is about 440 yds. long and probably originally consisted of two strips placed end to end. A bank some 18 ft. wide and 4 ft. high with a possible ditch on the W., 21 ft. across, runs N.W. to S.E., returning E. at both ends though very disturbed. Its relationship to the strip lynchets is uncertain but they are probably contemporary.

(b) Strip fields (898791 to 901800) cover about 50 acres N.E. and S. of South Egliston. To the N. are strip lynchets up to 330 yds. long, gently curved in plan and running up a slope of 15° with treads 6 yds. to 15 yds. wide and risers 4 ft. high. To the S. are furlongs of broad ridge-and-furrow up to 17 yds. wide. There is also extensive narrow rig on ground shown as still being arable on the Tithe Map of 1841.'

<2> Anon, 1970s APs, AP70_390000E_80000N (Digital archive). SWX8820.

<3> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3253-4 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12877.

<4> Royal Air Force, 18-FEB-1970, RAF 58/0254 075-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12966.

<5> Channel Coastal Observatory, 23-MAR-2008, Lidar (Photograph). SDO12878.

<6> Channel Coastal Observatory, 25-FEB-2009, Lidar (Aerial Photograph). SDO12879.

<7> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 455092 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:39PM