Monument record MWX651 - Medieval settlement of Chaldecots, Kimmeridge

Former settlement of Chaldecots, included in Assize Rolls of 1244. Shipp and Hodson <2> write that Hutchins described Chaldecots as now only a farm-house, about half a mile east from Smedmore, and near the sea, where are the ruins of foundations of houses. Mills <3> records it as a lost name, placing it at about SY932784. It seems that sometime after George Clavell acquired the Chaldecot/Swalland Estate in 1757, the farmhouse previously known as Chaldecots became known as Swalland Farm. Chaldecots is on Taylor's Map of Dorset 1765. The present Swalland Farmhouse does not appear to be great antiquity but internal features recently revealed by the present tenant Mr Vearncombe, suggest an early date for at least part of the building. It seems most probable that this house is in part, or is on the site of, the former Chaldecots . <1-4>

There is no evidence of former settlement at or around Swalland Farm but an extensive range of buildings covering 1 ha. Of ground to the NW of the house may have obliterated any remains in that quarter. <6>

<1> Maw R, 1981, Swalland farm (Kimmeridge) and The Lost Location of Chaldecots. Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 136-7 map (Article in serial). SWX2843.

<2> John Hutchins, edited by Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W, 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, 563 (Monograph). SDO12569.

<3> Mills, A D, 1977, The place-names of Dorset, Part 1, 85 (Monograph). SWX2852.

<4> Good, R, 1979, Lost Villages of Dorset, 56 (Monograph). SWX1569.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 92777822) Swalland Farm (NAT)

<6> Quinnell, N V, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 25-APR-86 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<7> Historic England, National Record of the Historic Environment, 456611 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 22 2026 1:07PM