Monument record MDO3931 - Prehistoric field system, Hanford

An extensive prehistoric field system visible as slight earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs. Earthwork remains of later prehistoric fields on the south and south-west sides of, and adjacent to, Hambledon Hill. In places they are overlain by strip lynchets of probable medieval date. The Hambledon Hill earthworks were surveyed by RCHME in 1996.

Traces of 'Celtic' fields, totalling 12 acres, remain adjacent to the hillfort on Hambledon Hill. On the south west spur the fields have almost been destroyed by strip and later ploughing (ST 843121 to ST 844121) but one lynchet survives, 8ft high, north of this (ST 841122) There are banks down the slope forming at least three fields, the smallest coverering 1/2 acre and the largest 1 3/4 acres. The fields below the north west limb of the hillfort (ST 842 130) were probably laid out before the final enlargement of the defences, but they appear to have been adapted to continued cultivation. There are further traces east of the north east entrance to the hillfort. <1>

ST 843121 to ST 844121 Two low strip lynchets circa 1.0m high and 25.0m apart run for 150.0m along the contour. The upper lynchet abuts a field corner, defined by a 0.5m high scarp, to the west.

ST 842123 A strong lynchet, 2.5m high, with a 5.0m wide tread, lies across the shoulder. A low bank, about 3.0m wide and 0.5m high, and two scarps run down the slope. Parallel striations, on the RAF air photographs, between them suggest strip ploughing, but there are no visible traces on the ground.

ST 842130 Two scarps truncated by chalk pits lie along the contour, on a very steep slope immediately below the hill-fort. The upper scarp, about 3.0m high, abuts a field angle to the West, which is overlain by the outer-most rampart of the hillfort. The lower scarp is weaker about 2m high.

ST 844130 Two low spread banks, about 4.0m wide and 0.5m high, run down the slope. <2>

(ST 842 123 - 846 122) The field system around the N end of the hill may be contemporary but appears to be separate, and was assigned a new number (ST 81 SW 65) to enhance the record

<1> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 342 (Monograph). SDO136.

'GROUP (62): HAMBLEDON HILL (Child Okeford, Hanford and Iwerne Courtney). There are traces of 'Celtic' fields, now totalling some 12 acres, but certainly indicative of a much greater former acreage, at a number of points on the Chalk of Hambledon Hill, between about 300 ft. and 600 ft. O.D. All the fields have been disturbed by subsequent ploughing and most of them are immediately adjacent to the hill-fort, Child Okeford (22). The least disturbed, at ST 847117, are ½ mile from the hill-fort and the same distance from the enclosure, probably of the Iron Age, Hanford (6); these are the only typical remains. They lie W. of a yew plantation, which partly encroaches upon them, between 300 ft. and 500 ft. O.D. on the S.-facing slope of a spur. There are only the faintest traces S. of Hanford (6).
The fields around the hill-fort have been almost destroyed by strip and later ploughing at S.W., 840122-842123, but one lynchet survives 8 ft. high. N. of this, around 842124, there are banks down the slope (23 degrees to 25 degrees) forming at least three fields, the smallest covering ½ acre and the largest 1¾ acre. The steep slope and the exposed position suggest that the lynchet formation might have been caused by stock rather than by cultivation. The fields below the N.W. limb of the hill-fort were probably laid out before the final enlargement of the defences, but they appear to have been adapted to continued cultivation. There are further traces E. of the N.E. entrance to the hill-fort.
Air photographs: CPE/UK 1944: 2327-9 and 3328-9; Cambridge University Collections, oblique, BZ 34, 47 and 49. Keiller Collection, verticals (N.M.R.)'.

<2> Chaplin, C P, Various, Field Investigators Comments CC, F1 CC 04-APR-78 (Unpublished document). SWX3450.

<2.1> 07-JAN-1954, RAF F21/58/1332 5-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20293.

<3> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/096 RCHME Inventory: Dorset III (Central) (Unpublished document). SDO17384.

<4> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Historic England Archive AF1079113 RCHME: Hambledon Hill, Dorset (Excavation archive). SDO20294.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 1080702 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000926 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (1 of 2)/ink survey. See also GAM 1079875

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000927 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (2 of 2)/ink survey

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000928 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (1 of 8)/pencil survey

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000929 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (2 of 8)/pencil survey

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000930 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (3 of 8)/pencil survey

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, MD000931 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill, outer rampart/pencil section

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000222 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (4 of 8)/pencil survey

<13> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000223 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (5 of 8)/pencil survey

<14> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000224 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (6 of 8)/pencil survey

<15> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000225 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (7 of 8)/pencil survey

<16> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000226 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambledon Hill (8 of 8)/pencil survey

<17> Historic England, Historic England Archive, ME000227 (Index). SDO14738.

Hambleldon Hill, outer rampart/ink section

<18> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206273 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 15 2023 4:59PM