Monument record MDO243 - Lynchets around Chalbury, Bincombe

(Centred SY 695841) The valley to the north east of Chalbury hillfort contains a system of Medieval strip lynchets, and at the base of the hillside to the north and east of the valley further curved strip-like lynchets are visible. <1>

As described by authority 1. the lynchets and field banks are pronounced and under pasture. At SY 60608385 is a strongly defined terrace cultivation system following the contours on a steep eastern hill slope. Cultivation has also extended up hill aparently in the ditches of the hill-fort on its north and east sides, now visible as terraces. At SY 69288374 in a narrow strip along each side of the valley are well pronounced cultivation terraces. <2>

Strip lynchets cover some 45 acres east and south west of Green Hill (around SY 695843) and north, west and south west of Chalbury (around SY 694838). Cement-stone outcrops in the faces of risers at the valley east of Green Hill suggest artificial construction of the lynchets. On Green Hill the treads are also so spaced vertically that slivers of natural ground can been seen in places between them. In this area lynchets run into each other at the obtuse angle of the valley head. Strip lynchets with flat treads are curiously carved atwide intervals into the east facing slopes of Coombe Valley, about SY 692841, and immediately north east of Chalbury (around SY 695840) shallow strip lynchets continue up the slope of 20x, on the upper slope, dividing banks 9ft across are apparently original. Plan. <3-4>

Strip lynchets, centred SY 695838 covering aproximately 2.2 ha. They are most prominent on the lower eastern slopes of Chalbury Hill and on the south side of Green Hill, and also noteworthy on both sides of Coombe Valley. <5>

Medieval contour lynchets are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and LiDAR imagery around Chalbury hillfort <6-7>. They were digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project and form part of a wider medieval landscape of stip lynchets and cultivation marks.

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, RCHME Ms file (Unpublished document). SDO19490.

<2> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 21-DEC-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<2.1> Royal Air Force, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3334 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20044.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 23-24 (Monograph). SDO148.

‘(11) STRIP FIELDS (Figs. pp. 24, 484; Plates 70, 72, 216). Remains of strip cultivation in Bincombe and Sutton Poyntz are widespread; in outlying places this cultivation may have altered earlier field patterns (e.g. on Bincombe Hill, see Ancient Field Group (8)). Much has been destroyed by quarrying but the present obvious remains are complemented by slight traces visible on air photographs or from the ground. The position of outcropping rock in risers suggests that some of the strip lynchets were deliberately constructed for at least part of their length. Treads generally slope downwards in cross section, with interesting exceptions in Coombe Bottom furlong, and their ends are ramped, 'drawnout' or quarter-round. The open fields of Bincombe were finally enclosed in 1827 when South Field lay S. of the village, Middle Field was immediately S. of Bincombe Down and North Field lay just N. of Bincombe Hill. Faint traces of strip-field remains in the former Middle and North Fields are visible on air photographs. Almost all the strip fields remaining were cultivated at least into the 19th century but are now mostly in pasture. (R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821: 4453, 6445–7; Enclosure Maps of Preston and Sutton Poyntz, 1794, and of Bincombe, 1827, in D.C.R.O., show furlong names (see plan p. 24). … (b) Strip lynchets formerly in Sutton Poyntz cover some 45 acres E. and S.W. of Green Hill (around 695843) and N., W. and S.W. of Chalbury (around 694838) (Plates 72, 216). Cement-stone outcrops in the faces of risers at the valley head E. of Green Hill and at the foot of Tout on the S.E. suggest artificial construction of the strip lynchets (Plate 70). On Green Hill the treads are also so spaced vertically that slivers of natural ground can be seen in places between them. In this area strip lynchets run into each other at the obtuse angle of the valley head. Strip lynchets with flat treads are curiously carved at wide intervals into the E.-facing slopes of Coombe Valley, about 692841. Around 687834 a block runs in a shallow S curve, probably due to the contours, up to the former parish boundary and must have been contiguous with those in Bincombe. Widths of treads vary from 5 yds. to 9 yds. and riser heights from 3 ft. to 18 ft. Immediately N.E. of Chalbury (about 695840) shallow strip lynchets continue up a slope of 20°. On the upper slope dividing banks 9 ft. across are apparently original. For fields further E., see Weymouth (395).’

<4> Department of the Environment, 1977, Department of the Environment (IAM) Ancient Monuments of England Vol 2, 76 (Monograph). SWX2300.

<5> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 02-JUL-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<6> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3242 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11964.

<7> 2006, LiDAR D0059947 (Aerial Photograph). SDO11966.

<8> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

Record last edited

Jan 16 2025 5:01PM