Monument record MDO829 - Roman occupation south of Lyscombe Farm, Cheselbourne

Antiquarian reports describe Roman finds during the levelling of ground in the vicinity of Lyscombe Farm. In 1949 Ray Farrar observed Romano-British material in the bed of a stream south of the farm buildings; this included fragments of roof and flue tiles, suggesting the presence of a substantial building in the vicinity.

(ST 736008). Romano-British roof and flue-tile fragments were found in 1949 scattered in a stream bed south of Lyscombe Farm (ST 73680092-73710079). No foundations were seen. Warne records Roman tiles, bricks and other debris found during levelling a meadow below the farm buildings of Lyscombe Farm, where the ground had been uneven and "marked with squares." Many of the bricks were built into a nearby drain. Also, a labourer found "an oven, in which were many ashes" which Warne considers could have been a hypocaust. "Castels", mentioned in a charter of 869 AD may indicate Roman buildings, while the name Streetway Lane suggests a Roman origin. <1-3>

Centred ST 73620095. The area south of Lyscombe Farm is disturbed, showing traces of rectangular enclosures, now too slight for survey. Their age is uncertain. The owner <4.1> reports finds of Romano-British and Medieval pottery in the vicinity. <4>

<1> Warne, C, 1872, Ancient Dorset (2nd Edition), 85 (Monograph). SWX1971.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1949, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1948, 60 (Serial). SDO48.

‘Cheselbourne, Lyscombe Farm; O.S. 1-in. 736008.

In April 1949 Romano-British roof and flue-tile fragments were noticed by Mr. R. A. H. Farrar scattered in the bed of the stream bordering the meadow south of Lyscombe Farm for about 80 yards north and an equal distance south of the sluice, but no signs of foundations were observed.

The discovery serves to identify more accurately the position of the Romano-British site recorded somewhat vaguely by Warne, who stated that “in a meadow below the farm buildings” Roman tiles, bricks, and other debris had been found during the levelling of over an acre of ground which was “exceedingly uneven and marked with squares”.

The site, which is about half a mile east of that at Dole’s Ash Farm (see below), has been recorded on sheet XXXII N.W. of the series of 6-in. Ordnance maps kept at the Dorset County Museum.’

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 77 (Monograph). SDO146.

‘(21) OCCUPATION DEBRIS, Romano-British, consisting of fragments of roof and flue tiles, was found in the stream bed S. of Lyscombe Farm (73680092–73710079), (C. Warne, Ancient Dorset (1872), 85; Dorset Procs. LXX (1948), 60). 'Castels' mentioned in a charter of 869 A.D. may indicate Roman buildings, while the name Streetway Lane also suggests Roman origin (Dorset Procs. LVI (1934), 124–7).’

<4> Barrett, G, Various, Field Investigators Comments GB, F1 GB 10-NOV-78 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

<4.1> 25-OCT-78, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: With Hon Mrs A B Russell, Lyscombe Farm, Cheselbourne. G. Barrett, 1978, Melcombe Horsey. (Verbal communication). SDO17565.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 202093 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 28 2022 3:27PM