Monument record MDO1170 - Deserted medieval settlement, Frampton

The earthworks on the south side of the road between Southover Farm and Drinkwater Osier Beds and beyond, consist of a series of banks, scarps and enclosures, probably representing a Medieval village site. <2>

The earthworks are typical of the deserted or depopulated village sites in the area, consisting of low banks forming square rectangular platforms and enclosures. The straggling site runs intermittently for 3/4 mile, and is situated just above the flood plain of the River Frome and the present watermeadows, in a sheltered position facing north-east. <3>

Beresford, presumably referring to this site lists it as "SY 615955. Frampton". Earthworks partly visible on air photographs. <6-7>

The earthworks are much reduced by ploughing and now appear in isolated pockets at 'A' SY 613899490; 'B' SY 61489530; 'C' SY 61699505; and 'D' SY 61899490 (see plans)

The first area 'A' of 1:1ha has a small close some 40m by 30m with banks between 0.4m and 1.1m high and averaging 5.5m wide. The remains of adjoining banks and lynchets are also visible with a probable much later and superimposed lynchet at SY 61309544.

'B' an area of 0.6ha. Exhibits the remains of several closes with banks and lynchets 1.2m high and 4.0m wide and ditches 2.5m wide and 0.5m deep. Two possible house sites aligned north-west/south-east against lynchets are visible at SY 61449530 and SY 61459530. The former is a platform 3.0m by 10.0m while the latter has only a defined west end, 3.5m wide and 3.5m long.

'C' of 0.3ha lies in Gayden Coppice and is visible as a series of small lynchetted closes averaging 10.0m by 25.0m and 1.3m high.

'D' is an area of 8.0ha generally in very poor condition with the scant remains of closes visible over 270.0m parallel to the modern road. The closes average 20.0m by 40.0m with banks 6.5m wide and 0.2m. High. The only preserved part is at SY 61809494 within a private garden.

Revised at 1:2500 on MSD. <8>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

(Centred SY 617950) British Settlement (NR)

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 117 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(24) EARTHWORKS, to the S. of the road from monument (6) to Drinkwater Osier Beds near monument (8), and beyond, consist of a series of banks, scarps and enclosures, probably representing a mediæval village-site.'

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 21-JAN-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1957, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1956, 92 (Serial). SDO56.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1994, Medieval Village Research Group Index, PRN 490 (Index). SDO16386.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 scale map, 1963 (Map). SDO17396.

(Centred SY 617950) Earthwork (NR) (twice)

<6> Beresford, M, and Hurst, J G, 1971, Deserted Medieval Villages, 186 (Monograph). SWX1568.

<7> 1969, OS/69/114 014-16 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20218.

<8> Attrill, N J, Field Investigators Comments NJA, F2 NJA 26-FEB-81 (Unpublished document). SDO14743.

<9> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/088 RCHME Inventory: Dorset I (West) and Revision (Unpublished document). SDO17367.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453177 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 4:03PM