Monument record MDO7234 - Shrunken medieval settlement, Chaldon Herring

The earthwork remains of the shrunken medieval settlement of Chaldon Herring are visible on aerial photographs in the northern part of the modern village.

(Centred SY 789834). Small field banks in this area; possibly ancient field system. <1>

SY 789834. Remains of a Medieval (?) settlement formerly part of Chaldon Herring cover 6 acres west and east of the road north from the village. (SY 78958344 and SY 79138350). <2-3>

In the area centred SY 791835 are vague scarps and minor undulations, which may be much-ploughed down remains of a medieval settlement. No building platforms could be identified. <4>

The earthwork remains of the shrunken medieval settlement of Chaldon Herring are visible on aerial photographs <6-8>. The earthworks are visible in the northern area of the modern village, over an area measuring approximately 750 m by 305 m. They consist of banks and ditches defining enclosures which measure between 21 m by 19 m and 77 m by 70 m, probably delineating property and field boundaries. The deserted settlement features are still partly visible on aerial photographs of 2005 <9>. These features were digitally plotted as part of the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

<1> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 05-FEB-53 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 36 (Monograph). SDO148.

‘(23) SETTLEMENT REMAINS, formerly part of Chaldon Herring village (78958344 and 79138350), cover 6 acres W. and E. of the road N. from the village; they are almost obliterated. The chapel was incorporated by 1801 into a house, since destroyed. (Hutchins I, 341, 343; Fägersten, 138; R.A.F. V.A.P. CPE/UK 1821:4436.)’

<3> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1821 4435-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13863.

<4> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F2 JGB 23-JUL-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<6> Royal Air Force, 21-JAN-1945, RAF 106G/LA/105 1070-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13864.

<7> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3270-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13851.

<8> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3271-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13849.

<9> Dorset County Council, XX-XXX-2005, Dorset CC Vertical Digital Photo Tile (Aerial Photograph). SDO13151.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 454213 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 20 2025 11:00AM