Monument record MDO243 - Lynchets around Chalbury, Bincombe

Medieval contour lynchets are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs around Chalbury hillfort.

(Centred SY 695841) The valley to the north east of Chalbury hillfort contains a system of Medieval strip lynchets, and at the base of the hillside to the north and east of the valley further curved strip-like lynchets are visible. <1> As described by authority 1. the lynchets and field banks are pronounced and under pasture. At SY 60608385 is a strongly defined terrace cultivation system following the contours on a steep eastern hill slope. Cultivation has also extended up hill aparently in the ditches of the hill-fort on its north and east sides, now visible as terraces. At SY 69288374 in a narrow strip along each side of the valley are well pronounced cultivation terraces. <2> Strip lynchets cover some 45 acres east and south west of Green Hill (around SY 695843) and north, west and south west of Chalbury (around SY 694838). Cement-stone outcrops in the faces of risers at the valley east of Green Hill suggest artificial construction of the lynchets. On Green Hill the treads are also so spaced vertically that slivers of natural ground can been seen in places between them. In this area lynchets run into each other at the obtuse angle of the valley head. Strip lynchets with flat treads are curiously carved atwide intervals into the east facing slopes of Coombe Valley, about SY 692841, and immediately north east of Chalbury (around SY 695840) shallow strip lynchets continue up the slope of 20x, on the upper slope, dividing banks 9ft across are apparently original. Plan. <3-4> Strip lynchets, centred SY 695838 covering aproximately 2.2 ha. They are most prominent on the lower eastern slopes of Chalbury Hill and on the south side of Green Hill, and also noteworthy on both sides of Coombe Valley. <5> Medieval contour lynchets are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and LiDAR imagery around Chalbury hillfort <6-7>. They were digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project and form part of a wider medieval landscape of stip lynchets and cultivation marks.

Record last edited

Nov 14 2023 12:02PM