Monument record MDO41161 - Probable post medieval field boundaries, Canford Magna, Poole

Banked linear features on the open heath to the south of Canford Magna are visible on 1940's aerial photographs. The features are presumed to be historic field boundaries of probable post medieval date, although a later, perhaps early 20th century origin is possible. Alternatively they could be boundary features of much earlier date, possibly representing phases of late medieval or early post medieval enclosure of the heathland margins, although this is less certain. The features were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP project.

Banked linear features on the open heath to the south of Canford Magna are visible on 1940s aerial photographs (1 and 2).

The features comprise a series of narrow rectilinear and curvilinear banks that sub-divide parts of the heath, which on the OS 1st Edition map is shown as part open heath and part plantation (3). The features are considered likely to be historic field boundaries of probable post medieval date, although a later, perhaps early 20th century, origin is possible. They may alternatively be older boundary features, possibly representing phases of enclosure of the heathland margins during the later medieval and early post medieval periods that were in disuse by the time the plantation cover developed; although this is less certain..

The site is still partially open heath and partially plantation on current Google Earth imagery and some of the features are still faintly visible. They were digitally plotted by the Dorset Stour NMP.

<1> Royal Air Force, 30-OCT-45, RAF/106G/T/16 FVp1 7074-5 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16047.

<2> Royal Air Force, 12-DEC-46, RAF/CPE/UK/1893 RP 3255-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16029.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1864, 1886, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, epoch one (Map). SDO10239.

Record last edited

Dec 7 2021 11:11AM