Monument record MDO1711 - Prehistoric field system on Henning Hill, Melcombe Horsey

Fragmentary contour strip lynchets, part of the former open field-system of Bingham's Melcombe (ST 70 SE 40), lie to the NW of Hill Barn. The remains of a prehistoric field system are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery on the north and northwest-facing slopes of Henning Hill, Melcombe Horsey. The features cover an area of over 18 hectares and were digitally recorded during the Mod Dorset Downs AIM project.

ST 761019. Fragmentary contour strip lynchets, part of the former open field-system of Bingham's Melcombe (ST 70 SE 40), lie to the NW of Hill Barn. <1>

The remains of a prehistoric field system are visible as earthworks on lidar imagery on the north and northwest-facing slopes of Henning Hill, Melcombe Horsey. The features cover an area of over 18 hectares and were digitally recorded during the Mod Dorset Downs AIM project. (Environment Agency 2025)

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 332 (Monograph). SDO136.

'GROUP (46): MANOR FARM AND HENNING HILL (Cheselbourne and Melcombe Horsey). 'Celtic' fields are traceable from N.N.W. of Manor Farm, Cheselbourne, to Henning Hill, Cheselbourne and Melcombe Horsey, between ST 750008 and 767018, over about 100 acres of Chalk downland. They lie between about 400 ft. and 650 ft. O.D., mostly on the steeper hill-slopes, but in one place, ¼ mile N. of Manor Farm, crossing the valley bottom. They formerly continued in all directions. Some destruction by strip ploughing is apparent N.W. of Manor Farm and on the slopes of Henning Hill, especially on its N.E. side (cf. Melcombe Horsey (10)).
An original pattern recognisable over some 20 acres N.W. of Manor Farm includes long fields but only one is complete, 170 yds. long by 20 yds. to 30 yds. wide. Slopes here are from 5° to 16°, lynchets 3 ft. to 9 ft. high.
On the N. tip of Henning Hill, at 75950197, is a pentagonal enclosure, probably an altered 'Celtic' field about ⅓ acre in area, delimited by a massive lynchet on the N., a low bank 12 ft. wide on the E. and traces of bank or lynchet elsewhere. Poor remains of 'Celtic' fields lie around it.
Air photographs: CPE/UK 1934: 1151–2.'

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 201919 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<3> Environment Agency, 15-DEC-2023, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM (Aerial Photograph). SDO20691.

Record last edited

Dec 11 2025 6:23PM