Monument record MDO60 - Deer Park, Abbotsbury

Possible Medieval deerpark at Abbotsbury. Although no positive reference to a park is known, park names occur in a land grant of 1544 and a number still appear on Ordnance Survey maps. In the area south of these names is a bank and ditch.

(SY 588850) Possible deer park at Abbotsbury. Although no positive reference to a medieval park has been found Hutchins (a) mentions that land in Abbotsbury granted to Sir Giles Strangways in 1544 included 'East and West Park'. The names Parks Withy Bed (SY 587849) and Long Parks Withy Bed (SY 589849) are shown on OS map and two further 'park' names are shown on an estate map of 1758 (b). South of these names is a bank and ditch (see illust. compiled from Wilson's description), the ditch is on the outside of the bank which is unusual although not unknown for deer park boundaries. Evidence for a park is uncertain and the fact that the parish boundary partially bisects the suggested park area is a further reason for regarding Abbotsbury park as no more than a possibility. <1>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1980, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1978, 32 (Serial). SDO78.

<1.1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1863, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 2, 714 (Monograph). SWX1269.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 450423 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 27 2023 3:15PM