Monument record MDO2528 - Stockwood Deer Park, Stockwood

A medieval deer park. The location and extent of the deer park is as identified by Cantor and Wilson, based on park field names and a length of earthwork bank with characteristics suggesting it was part of the deer park pale.

In 1230 William de Cautilupo was granted a licence to "enclose his wood of Stockwood and to make a part of it" (a). A group of six fields with park names at the northern end of the parish (area centred SU 58500880) are shown on a sketch map (see Illustration card). These fields and a length of eminently characteristic bank and ditch make this area the site of a medieval park. The bank referred to runs from 'A' (SU 58950880) to 'B' (SU 58560913) and follows the parish boundary for almost its entire length. It is a flat-topped steeply sided bank 20' wide and 3-4' high. At 'C' (SU 58290888) a bank, for the most part 15' wide and 3' high, is to be found to the east of the road and it runs to 'D' (SU 58590847). The sketch map shows the suggested course for the remaining park pale which encloses an area of about 80 acres. (1) The Medieval Deer Park of Stockwood lies in a small irregular enclaveof Stockwood parish at the junction of that parish with the parishes of Yetminster and Melbury Osmond. As stated by Cantor (auths 1 and 2) its pale is followed for much of the time by the parish boundary but it is significant that where the parish boundary leaves it (or its presumed course) the parish boundary changes and weakens. The best preserved section of the pale lies between Cantor's A and B (see his map) where along to north and north east sides of Briars Wood and south east to the stream at ST 589087, a distance of some 500m, the pale, comprising a bank with inner ditch, is up to 8.5m in width and near the stream, 2.0m in height. From Cantor's B west along the north and west sides of Briars Wood itis extant although less well preserved, and from the south west corner of the wood to Cantor's C it has been destroyed and under plough. From Cantor's C to D it is marked by the stronger-than-normal parish boundary, but from D through E and F to A there is no trace although there is no evidence, and no good reason, to contradict Cantor's line. Because the course is followed wholly by modern boundaries it is not asuitable subject for survey at 1:2500 but the course of the best preserved sections of pale should be published on the maps. (3)

Record last edited

Apr 7 2022 10:06AM