Monument record MDO1881 - Medieval settlement of Suddon, Owermoigne

Earthworks around South Down Farm, thought to be the remains of the medieval settlement of Suddon. The first known use of this name occurred in 1327. The settlement remains have been rather disturbed by later activity, but a few fragmentary closes can be seen.

Suddon, anciently a manor and vill, part of possessions, of the Moignes, now called South Down Farm. <1>

SY 757821. Remains of a settlement cover about 6 acres around South Down Farm but only a few fragmentary closes survive. The settlement is first recorded as Sudden in 1327. <2>

Centred at SY 758822, east of South Down Farm, are two or three short west-facing scarps up to 1.5m. in height which may be remnants of farmer closes of this settlement: no building sites are recognisable. <3>

The deserted settlement is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s <4>. (as source 3) The earthworks comprise: a partial sub-rectangular enclosure formed of a bank; three outlying banks around the enclosure; and a boundary extending to the south from the other earthworks. The features are visible over an area measuring approximately 165 m by 42 m. These features were digitally plotted as part of the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, 459 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 188 (Monograph). SDO148.

‘(18) SETTLEMENT REMAINS (757821) cover about 6 acres around South Down Farm (15) (see Fig. p. 187); only a few fragmentary closes remain. The settlement is first recorded as ‘Suddon’ in 1327 (Fägersten, 143). (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821:4441.)’

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 22-JUL-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4441-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13844.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454252 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 6 2023 5:41PM