Monument record MDO1978 - Prehistoric field system, Piddletrenthide

Earthwork remains of an Iron Age or Romano British field system.

'Celtic' fields are detectable in the area of Plush Hill (ST 718017), extending eastwards to the area of Thornscombe (ST 724015). A probable settlement site at ST 716017 consists of about six rounded platforms, the largest being 30 feet by 20 ft, set into the hillside. Three of them may be convincingly interpreted as levelled areas for small huts. Prominent 'Celtic' scarps show to the north west of the settlement, but no certainly complete fields are visible here or in the Thorncombe area. <2-4> The fragmented 'Celtic' field system remains as described by RCHM <2> with banks up to 0.5m high. A group of vague hollows is terraced into the head of a small northwest/southeast combe at ST 71600160. They are all slight, averaging 6.0m in diameter, with the best preserved 9.0m in diameter and up to 0.4m deep. Though they may be interpreted as 'hut-platforms', their similarity to old chalk pits in close proximity (see ST 70 SW 26) must throw some doubt. Soil-marks visible on OS air photographs <5.1-5.2>. Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. <5> The earthwork remains of the field system described by the above authorities could be seen on aerial photographs. Further traces of the field system appear to extend into the adjacent fields to the east and south-east (centred at approximately ST 7325 0150). These features are visible on aerial photographs taken by English Heritage in 2007 as a part of the Reconnaissance Recording programme. <6>

Record last edited

Feb 3 2022 3:43PM