Monument record MDO3844 - Prehistoric field system on Fontmell Down, Fontmell Magna

Remnants of a prehistoric field system are visible on aerial photographs of Fontmell Down. In places the field system is overlain by medieval fields.

Air photographs show 'Celtic' fields at the top of the escarpment in Fontmell Magna, between ST 877167 and ST 887165 on either side of the old Blandford-Shaftesbury Road. A few lynchets survive on the upper slopes of the spur immediately south of Littlecombe Bottom (ST 881168). To the south further remains are detectable on Sutton Hill, between ST 877157 and ST 892157, and on the steep slope overlooking Combe Bottom at ST 874158 some contour strip lynchets remain. <3>

Formerly visible remains of 'Celtic' fields along the top of Fontmell Magna escarpement, centred ST 882166, and in the area adjoining the old Blandford Shaftesbury road (ST 885166) have now been destroyed by modern agriculture.

Poorly defined medieval type contour strip lynchets, average 1.5m high and 5.0m wide extend for about 250.0m around the high ground of a small north facing spur at ST 88151675. An overall assessment of this area is prevented by a dense ground cover of scrub and bramble.

Lynchet remains in the Sutton Hill area have also been denuded by modern ploughing, and are now insignificant. At ST 88401565 'Celtic' field remnants are represented by scarps up to 0.7m high.

The steep north west facing slope overlooking Combe Bottom exhibits the best field system remains of 'Celtic' and Medieval date.

An area centred ST 87551570 of about 3 ha contains well defined scarps up to 0.8m high, of probable Iron Age/Romano-British rectilinear fields, which angle across the hill slope.

Staggered corner angles of Celtic fields occur at ST 87651570 along the margin of modern ploughland, which now covers Sutton Hill.

ST 87201570-ST 87651610 Extending intermittently for about 600.0m along the lower slope of the combe side are Medieval type contour strip lynchets of average 2.5m high, and 5.0m wide. Some of the terraces have slumped due to animal burrowing. The general condition is fair.

Cross-banks and lynchets visible on OS air photographs. <4>

A small block of the field system at ST877167 was considered by MPPA for scheduling in July 2000. The lynchets are preserved to 1.0m high, but no complete fields could be traced since this part of the system lies in an area of permanent pasture and scrub. It is a SSSI and nature reserve, it has not been recommended for scheduling. <5>

<1> Atkinson, R J C, 1949, Annotated Record Map Rec. 6 (R J C Atkinson 1 3 49) (Map). SWX2397.

ST 880163 Field System

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

ST 874160 Field System (NR)

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 120 (Monograph). SDO99.

'GROUP (77): SUTTON HILL AND BAREDEN DOWN (Fontmell Magna, Iwerne Minster, Sutton Waldron).
'Celtic' fields appear formerly to have covered much of the summit and the slopes of the Chalk escarpment in these parishes. Subsequent distruction has left dis-continuous areas of remains, all levelled by ploughing except on the steeper slopes, and visible only on air photographs.
Air photographs show 'Celtic' fields at the top of the escarpment in Fontmell Magna, between 877167 and 887165 on either side of the old Blandford-Shaftesbury road, and on the spur of Fontmell Down around 878180. A few lynchets survive on the upper slopes of the spur immediately S. of Littlecombe Bottom, with later strip lynchets below them. To the S. further remains are detectable on Sutton Hill, between 877157 and 892157, and on the steep slope overlooking Coombe Bottom (876160). In Iwerne Minster remains of 'Celtic' fields lie around the head of a dry combe on Bareden Down (885153). Air photographs: CPE/UK 1934: 4324-6; CPE/UK 2038: 4082-3'.

<3.1> Royal Air Force, 19.8.54, F22 542/RAF/8 68-70 (Aerial Photograph). SDO18572.

<3.2> Royal Air Force, 19-AUG-54, RAF/542/8 F21 104-106 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17876.

<4> Stone, J W, Field Investigators Comments JWS, F1 JWS 14-APR-78 (Unpublished document). SDO11902.

<4.1> Ordnance Survey, 28.8.75, OS 75/371 110-111 (Aerial Photograph). SDO17863.

<5> English Heritage, English Heritage Alternative Action Report, S J Lobb, MPPA, Sep-2000 (Scheduling record). SDO18279.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 204914 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 8:07PM