Monument record MDO1168 - Enclosed field system at Great Hogleaze, Frampton

An enclosed field system and associated trackways of probable Iron Age/Romano-British date are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs.

Field systems of Celtic type have left remains in the south west part of Frampton parish. They occur on Great Hogleaze, on the east side of West Hill Bottom and on the north side of Compton Bottom. <1> Group (1): Westminstone to Town Hill (SY 600920-628920) 'Celtic' fields are virtually continuous over about 900 acres, mostly Upper Chalk but with a capping of pebbly clay and sand on the main ridge top, in the S of Frampton and Compton Valence parishes and the N of Winterbourne Abbas parish. They were formerly more extensive and have mostly been overlaid by or integrated into a later pattern of broad ridge-and-furrow some of which has, in turn, been ploughed in narrow rig. This broad ridge-and-furrow on the downland probably represents a temporary or sporadic extension of cultivation beyond the limits of the permanent arable in the Mediaeval period or, possibly, later. Modern ploughing is completing the work of destruction throughout the whole group. The remains have been further disturbed by numerous small quarries and chalk pits, now disused. Two settlements in Frampton (a) on Little Hogleaze (SY 69 SW 32) and (b) above West Hill Bottom (SY 89 SW 18) Romano-British at least in their final phases, are contemporary with the 'Celtic' fields as is a system of tracks probably linked to the Roman road running W from Dorchester on a line near that of the present ridge-way road. (i) Westminstone Down 'Celtic' fields, mostly overlain by broad ridge-and-furrow on the gentle slopes of the higher ground, cover 60 acres in the SE of Compton Valence parish. Surviving fields have sides 40 yds to 50 yds long and are bounded by lynchets up to 10 ft high or by low, flinty boundary banks. A track running from the line of the Roman road towards settlement (a) apparently formed a boundary to the S. (ii) West Hill Bottom and Little Hogleaze, at W of Frampton parish. 'Celtic' fields of 1/2 to 4/5 acre in size, where complete, are overlain by disturbed broad ridge-and-furrow. Tracks 4 yds to 7 yds wide, mostly of double-lynchet form, run into settlements (a) and (b). It is possible that the latter was developed on old fields and certainly both settlements seem to have extended on to former fields. (iii) Town Hill and Great Hogleaze. 'Celtic' fields with lynchets up to 7ft high are overlain in an area of at least 60 acres by broad ridge-and-furrow. The fields often have staggered angles but an almost continuous run of lynchets from settlement (a) to 621929 suggests a boundary. Two complete 'Celtic' fields near the centre of the area measured only 25 yds square but others, to the N., have been thrown together to form long fields. Enclosure (SY 69 SW 25) has no demonstrable link with the fields but is probably prehistoric. Curving scarps in a copse at 621917 suggest the possibility of contemporary settlement. (iv) Eweleaze to Higher Ground. 'Celtic' fields, disturbed by later ploughing, stretched S from Pigeon House cottage, near which there are remains of strip lynchets, to Higher Ground where, after a wide gap with no sign of ridging, they are overlain by broad ridge-and-furrow, and at the SE further overlain by narrow rig. A hollow-way (?) (SY 69 SW 16) and a faint track which joins it from the SE, as well as a continuation W of both, apparently belong to a phase of 'Celtic' fields which end against them. The deep hollowing of the track is unusual in a 'Celtic' field system and is probably due to subsequent wear or to the utilisation of a ditch line. (v) Winterbourne Abbas, S of the Roman road. Fragmentary traces of 'Celtic' fields extend for about 1 mile. Around 603919 they are apparently overlain by broad ridge-an-furrow which perhaps continued S to meet the strip lynchets of the open-field system (see SY 69 SW 31). An undated enclosure (SY 69 SW 69) was built over 'Celtic' fields, but its relationship to the ridge-and-furrow was not clear. On the N., on the approximate line of the Roman road and traceable for over a mile, is a track with a bank on the N, separating it from the modern road. It is defined on the S by a low scarp from which 'Celtic' lynchets occasionally run. (RAF VAP CPE/UK 2431:3141-3). Area of field system delineated by RAF air photographs. <3> The IA/RB field system with superimposed medieval cultivation remains generally as described (Auth 3) over the whole of this area. It has however been further reduced by intensive ploughing throughout so that nowhere can the scarps and lynchets be described as outstanding. <4> Several settlements scattered between these fields, on Little Hogleaze (MDO1174, MDO21656, MDO21658) and above at West Hill Bottom (MDO1173, MDO21649), which are Romano-British at least in their final phases, are likely to be contemporary with the field system. <5> Additional field boundaries. <23> An enclosed field system and associated trackways of probable Iron Age/Romano-British date are visible as earthworks and cropmarks on aerial photographs. They were formerly more extensive and have mostly been overlaid by or integrated into a later pattern of broad medieval ridge-and-furrow (MDO21660) some of which has, in turn, been ploughed in narrow rig. <6-21> This broad ridge-and-furrow on the downland probably represents a temporary or sporadic extension of cultivation beyond the limits of the permanent arable in the Mediaeval period or, possibly, later. Modern ploughing is completing the work of destruction throughout the whole group. The remains have been further disturbed by numerous small quarries and chalk pits, now disused (MDO21255-57). (SY 62919270) Possible Long Barrow. <26> This feature is not a mound but a scarp approximately 60m long and 1.2m high, running in a NW-SE direction and following the contour. It is situated at the top of a slope and appears to be a lynchet. (Probably asociated with Iron Age/Romano-British and Medieval field system. <27>

Record last edited

Dec 9 2023 6:57AM