Monument record MDO29 - Lynchets on White Hill, Abbotsbury
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Summary
Terraces on the southern slope of White Hill. These earthworks have been interpreted as the remains of a strip field system of medieval date, but may in part be of natural origin.
Map
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
An irregular system of lynchets on the south slopes of White Hill may be in part natural. <1>
'A' Area centred at SY 579860. In the area delineated there are four very strong near parallel medieval type lynchet-like slopes which may possibly be lynchets; but in view of the surrounding area having an unusual natural formation of outcrop rock and gravel, in some instances resembling lynchets, it cannot be said with certainty that 'A' is in fact the result of cultivation. <2>
An extensive series of lynchets is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs <4-7> on the southern slopes of White Hill and Abotsbury Plains. Many of the lynchets appear to be of medieval-type and are clearly the result of cultivation however some of the parallel features may be of natural geological origin. The site was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.
Sources/Archives (8)
- <1> SDO97 Monograph: Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England. 1952. An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West). 11.
- <2> SWX1169 Unpublished document: Swatridge, G C. Various. Field Investigators Comments GCS. F1 GCS 24-MAR-55.
- <3> SWX1540 Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Map 6in. 6 inch to 1 mile. 1967.
- <4> SDO11629 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 17-JAN-1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1934 1071-2.
- <5> SDO11631 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 17-JAN-1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1934 1072-3.
- <6> SDO11630 Aerial Photograph: 21-APR-1984. NMR OS/84038 388-9.
- <7> SDO11626 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 22-JAN-1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431 3286-7.
- <8> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 450390.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
Grid reference | Centred SY 579 858 (1870m by 836m) (92 map features) |
---|---|
Map sheet | SY58NE |
Civil Parish | Abbotsbury; Dorset |
Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 001 039
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: 450390
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 58 NE 50
- Royal Commission Inventory Reference: Abbotsbury 39
Record last edited
Jun 12 2023 12:38PM