SDO16956 - Farmstead and Landscape Statement: South Purbeck

National Character Area 136 Historic Character ■ A large part of the fieldscapes and settlement of the area can be traced back to the development of late Saxon estates, creating a distinctive pattern of axial land units and fields. ■ Small villages are intermixed with hamlets and isolated farmsteads, some of which represent the site of shrunken settlements and are associated with settlement earthworks. ■ Medium scale farmsteads of loose courtyard or dispersed plan, regular courtyard farmsteads were usually created as a result of growth over time. ■ Threshing barns, typically of five bays, and combination barns are characteristic. Significance ■ There is a medium to high survival of traditional farmsteads in this area, complete examples being uncommon. ■ Farm buildings dating from before 1750 are very rare and mostly comprise barns. ■ There are some rare examples of cheese houses and cider houses. ■ Farm buildings retaining locally distinctive stone slate (limestone) roofs are significant in terms of local character. ■ Some farmsteads are associated with the earthworks of deserted or shrunken settlement. Present and future issues ■ In this National Character Area, the Photo Image Project (2006) recorded a high proportion of listed working farm buildings converted to non-agricultural use (40%, the national average being 32%).