Scheduled Monument: Group of medieval strip lynchets at Knitson Farm (1019950)

EXTRACT FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE'S RECORD OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS MONUMENT: Group of medieval strip lynchets at Knitson Farm PARISH: LANGTON MATRAVERS DISTRICT: PURBECK COUNTY: DORSET NATIONAL MONUMENT NO: 33193 NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE(S): SZ00658083 DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMENT The monument includes a group of medieval strip lynchets situated on a south-facing slope at Knitson Farm. The lynchets, which now survive across an area of about 2ha, include a series of cultivation terraces which were produced by medieval ploughing. The lynchets developed as a result of the plough cutting into the upper edge of the slope and the resulting material being deposited along the downslope edge of the terrace. The surviving earthworks include two main components: scarps or `risers' and the terraces or `treads'. The strip lynchets at Knitson occur upon two alignments set at right angles to one another. To the west, a group of three lynchets are aligned north-south against the gradient of the slope. Here the lynchets include treads 100m long, between 8m to 20m wide with risers between about 1m to 1.5m high. To the east, another group of three lynchets are aligned east-west along the slope. These treads are 180m long, between 5m to 25m wide, with risers between about 1m to 1.5m high. The lynchets accord with the pattern of fields illustrated in a Tithe Map of 1841. They originally formed part of a more extensive medieval field system, which is known from aerial photographic evidence to have extended over an area of about 36ha, although much of this has since been reduced by ploughing. Excluded from the scheduling are all gate and fence posts which relate to the modern field boundaries, although the ground beneath them is included. ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE Strip lynchets provide distinctive indications of medieval cultivation. They occur widely in southern and south eastern England, and represent prominent features on the Wessex chalkland. Strip lynchets, which are characterised by the presence of terraces known as `treads' and scarps known as `risers', can vary in length, with some examples exceeding 200m, many systems include groups of three lynchets, while others are known to contain six or more. The group of medieval strip lynchets at Knitson Farm are well-preserved and represent part of the open field system associated with the medieval settlement at Knitson. The twin alignment of the lynchets at right angles to one another along the same slope represents an unusual feature. The lynchets will provide an important insight into the medieval farming practices of the area. They are well documented and will contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed. SCHEDULING HISTORY Monument included in the Schedule on 29th January 1959 as: COUNTY/NUMBER: Dorset 392 NAME: Strip lynchets at Knitson Farm The reference of this monument is now: NATIONAL MONUMENT NUMBER: 33193 NAME: Group of medieval strip lynchets at Knitson Farm SCHEDULING REVISED ON 07th November 2001

Record last edited

Sep 13 2024 11:08AM