Monument record MDO2072 - Prehistoric field system, Portesham

A later prehistoric field system partly overlain and probably partly destroyed by later medieval strip lynchets, the whole ploughed over by narrow rig, cover about 30 acres in a valley north of Portesham Withy Bed. A terraceway climbs the scarp north. The strip lynchets appear to mark the limit of an open field extending from Portesham.

Centred at SY 59068627. In this field are strip lynchets and 'Celtic' fields. The combe which rises N. from the withy bed is divided by a steep bank c.100 ft. high running NE-SW. A double lynchet track is cut into the top of this bank. To the N. of the bank are strip lynchets on the Eastern slope; and on the Western slope are 'Celtic' fields to the N., but become strip like in character to the south. South of the bank on the Eastern side a single lynchet runs parallel to the withy bed and rises to meet a series of lynchets 50 yds NE. of the withy bed. The western side has strip lynchets. <1>

'Field systems'. <2>

Area 'A' Centred at SY 58958630. A grass covered area with low irregular enclosures formed by field banks and lynchets of Iron Age/Romano British type. Area 'B' Centred at SY 59358636. This area is under grass with faint traces of an Iron Age/Romano British type field system. The rest of the area consists of medieval type strip lynchets from 3.0m to 11.0m wide, around the sides and bottom of the coombe. The steep bank 100ft high referred to in Authy 1 is a natural scarp just N of the withy bed. The alleged double lynchet trackway was not identified. <3>

SY 593859. Traces of contour strip lynchets cover about 16 acres in and around Portesham Withy Bed. One block runs W into the parish boundary with Abbotsbury, unchanged at least since 1758, and probably crossed the line. <5>

SY 593863. 'Celtic' fields, partly overlain by strip lynchets, and strip lynchets which probably obliterate 'Celtic' fields, almost all ploughed over in narrow rig, cover a re-entrant valley of about 30 acres N of Portesham Withy Bed. There are traces of scarped fields, almost destroyed, extending on higher ground W and E from the valley. A terraceway climbs the steep natural scarp N from the Withy Bed where finds suggest Romano-British and earlier occupation (see SY 58 NE 62). Only
one certainly complete 'Celtic' field, of about 1/3 acre, is detectable at the head of the valley on the W side, where 'Celtic' field traces generally survive. The strip lynchets are confined to the valley floor and E side where the treads are generally flat and the risers pronounced, indicating long usage. Some are high up the steep valley side on ledges. They appear to mark the limit of an open field extending from Portesham village. The narrow rig around SY 590860 cuts across the end of a strip lynchet. <6>

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, RCHM Mss file, 7.9.49 (H C Bowen) (Unpublished document). SDO18524.

<2> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, spec 6 inch (RJCA 1.3.49) (Map). SWX1583.

<3> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 19-APR-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<4> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1967 (Map). SWX1540.

(Centred SY 591861; SY 592859) Strip Lynchets (NR). (Centred SY 594858) Strip Lynchet (NR)

<5> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 140 (Monograph). SDO149.

<6> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 625 (Monograph). SDO150.

<7> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AA72/01785 (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN OF CELTIC FIELDS OVERLAIN BY STRIP LYNCHETS - ALL PLOUGHED OVER BY NARROW RIDGE AND FURROW

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB72/03995 (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN OF CELTIC FIELDS OVERLAIN BY STRIP LYNCHETS - ALL PLOUGHED OVER BY NARROW RIDGE AND FURROW

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, CC72/01475 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW OF FIELD SYSTEM OCCUPYING A DRY VALLEY

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, CC72/01476 (Index). SDO14738.

VIEW OF FIELD SYSTEM OCCUPYING A DRY VALLEY

<12> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450396 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

May 4 2023 9:48AM