Monument record MDO7302 - Medieval cultivation ridges, West Orchard Farm, Church Knowle

An extensive system of parallel cultivation marks of probable medieval origin are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs to the south of West Orchard Farm.

An extensive system of parallel cultivation marks and lynchets of probable medieval origin are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs to the south of West Orchard Farm (1-3). They were digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 213 (Index). SDO147.

‘Site lies in a regularly ploughed field. 7/7/D.’

<1> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4231-2 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13484.

<2> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 4229-30 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13490.

<3> Royal Air Force, 27-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA/200 1020-1 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13491.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 49 (Monograph). SDO148.

‘(32) STRIP FIELDS occur in four places: … (c) N.E. and S.E. of Bradle Barn along the sides of a narrow valley, remains of eight up-and-down strips (at 936804) divided by banks up to 1 ft. high. Widths vary from 20 yds. to 25 yds.’

Record last edited

Feb 3 2025 11:05AM