SDO11615 - Land at Lower Putton Lane, Chickerell, Dorset an Archaeological Desk-based Assesment

In March 2005 Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by CG Fry and Son Ltd to update an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of land at Lower Putton Lane, Chickerell, Dorset. The objective of the assessment to identify the nature and extent of the recorded archaeological resource within both the site and its immediate environs, with reference to a recent geophysical survey and trial trenching. The archaeological potential of the site is high. The deserted (or shrunken) medieval village of Putton is known to have been located within the site, earthworks from which remain extant and further related features were uncovered during the evaluation. The north-western fields of the site can be considered in three areas; the central area has the greatest archaeological potential due to the extant earthworks; the northern area has some potential as medieval features were uncovered in the evaluation on the higher ground either side of the lower-lying land around the stream; and no archaeological features were uncovered in the area to the south of the earthworks during the evaluation. The present arrangement of fields in the south-east part of the site reflects the medieval arrangement of strip fields, associated with the former medieval village, Many of the hedgerows present along the edges of these fields, and along the edges of the north-western fields, may be deemed to important under the archaeology and history criteria set out in the Hedgerow Regulations 1997. There is also potential for a Romano-British settlement, indicated by finds made in the general area, to lie partially within the site, although no features of this date were uncovered during the evaluation in the north-western area. Remains of the two houses of post-medieval or earlier date and of post-medieval brick kilns may be present within the site. None of the extant buildings on the site are of archaeological value.