SDO16305 - NMP Mapping of the Marshwood Vale Dorset AONB (HE Project no: 6936)

‘This report presents the results of an archaeological survey involving the systematic interpretation, mapping, and recording of archaeological sites from aerial photographs and lidar imagery within a 193 square kilometre area of southwest Dorset and southeast Devon, centred on the Marshwood Vale. The analytical aerial survey was carried out using Historic England’s (HE) National Mapping Programme (NMP) methodology. The primary aim of this NMP project was to provide a rapid baseline survey of the Marshwood Vale and thereby enhance understanding of the present range of historic assets in order to facilitate assessments of their significance and thereby inform future management of the resource. The project contributed to Historic England’s corporate plan Aim 2: Identify and protect England’s special historic buildings and places (HE 2016). The project achieved these aims by providing significant enhancement to existing baseline data through the mapping, interpretation and recording of 1655 archaeological sites of which 1534 were entirely new sites, previously unrecorded in the Dorset and Devon Historic Environment Records (HERs) or in the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) curated by Historic England. This report describes the extent of the project area and the methodology used as well as giving an illustrative overview of the results of the aerial survey and the historic context for these. The Marshwood Vale is largely a medieval and post medieval landscape and the majority of features mapped in this area were related to land division, settlement, agriculture and industry during these periods. Very few prehistoric or later prehistoric sites were mapped but those that were mapped were more typically located on the higher ground within the project area. The mapping added to the one known Roman fort at Waddon Hill and also identified a mysterious and previously unrecorded military site at Fir Farm, Broadwindsor, thought to be Second World War in date. The report is not intended to be a comprehensive account of the survey results; more exhaustive and detailed monument information is held in the Devon and Dorset HERs.’