Monument record MDO8061 - Medieval field system, South Egliston, Tyneham

Remains of parallel strip lynchets and ridge and furrow are visible as low earthworks on aerial photographs and lidar imagery of the slopes of Tyneham Cap and to the west of South Egliston. They are considered likely to be the remains of a medieval field system.

Remains of parallel strip lynchets and ridge and furrow are visible as low earthworks on aerial photographs (2-5) and lidar imagery (6-7) of the slopes of Tyneham Cap and to the west of South Egliston. They are considered likely to be the remains of a medieval field system. This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 2, 303 (Monograph). SDO149.

'(12) STRIP FIELDS, probably belonging to South Egliston, occur in two groups. (a) Strip lynchets (891797 to 897793) cover above 35 acres on the slopes of Tyneham Cap and S. of it. Three are 7 yds. to 30 yds. wide with risers 4 ft. to 18 ft. high; the lowest curving N.W., is about 440 yds. long and probably originally consisted of two strips placed end to end. A bank some 18 ft. wide and 4 ft. high with a possible ditch on theW., 21 ft. across runs N.W. to S.E., returning E. at both ends though very disturbed. Its relationship to the strip lynchets is uncertain, but they are probably contemporary. (b) Strip fields (898791 to 901800) cover about 50 acres N.E. and S. of South Egliston. To the N. are strip lynchets up to 330 yds. long, gently curved in plan and running up a slope of 15° with treads 6 yds. to 15 yds. wide and risers 4 ft. high. To the S. are furlongs of broad ridge-and-furrow up to 17 yds. wide. There is also extensive narrow rig on ground shown as still being arable on the Tithe Map of 1841.'

<2> Royal Air Force, 27-MAR-1945, RAF 106G/LA/200 F8 2006-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12968.

<3> Royal Air Force, 04-NOV-1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1824 F20 3254-55 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12956.

<4> Royal Air Force, 18-FEB-1970, RAF 58/0254 075-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12966.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 16-APR-1982, NMR OS/82033 106-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12967.

<6> Channel Coastal Observatory, 23-MAR-2008, Lidar (Photograph). SDO12878.

<7> Channel Coastal Observatory, 20-JUL-2008, CCO Aerial Photographic Coverage 2008 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12674.

<7> Channel Coastal Observatory, 25-FEB-2009, Lidar (Aerial Photograph). SDO12879.

<8> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 146 (Index). SDO147.

‘The site lies in fields both ploughed and in permanent pasture. 7/7/D.’

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:36PM