Monument record MDO1818 - Medieval cultivation terraces, Osmington

Medieval strip lynchets with traces of cultivation ridges visible as earthworks on aerial photographs.

(Areas centred at A SY 743822, B SY 747822, C SY 755822) Strip Lynchets. <1> Area A is afforested, areas B and C are under grass. The terraces formed in these areas are not regularly spaced and the drop between each is from 1.0m. to 4.5m. Area B has lynchets upon a very steep slope, suggesting that the terrace was created to some extent before it was cultivated. The less severe slope in area C would allow the terraces to form as a result of ploughing, without any initial construction. All are of Medieval type. <2> Around SY 74748220 are Medieval contour-type strip lynchets, the natural slope here is so steep that it suggests some preparation of the ground was necessary before first ploughing. (The almost flat treads in the area are notable). Broad 748820. Between SY 757822 to SY 760822 are very fragmentary strip lynchets of contour type ying north and north east of South Down Farm which may have formed part of the open fields of 'Suddon'. <3> No change. <4> The system of medieval strip lynchets with traces of cultivation ridges are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and were digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project <7-9>.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2023 4:54PM