Monument record MDO6675 - Humpty Dumpty Field: Deserted Medieval Village

Remains of a depopulated village or manorial complex. Earthworks associated with the medieval settlement are visible on aerial photographs.

Humpty Dumpty Field, Radipole. Scheduled under Deserted Villages, Settlements and Moated Sites. <1> The southern part of the field centred SY 666815, presumably Humpty Dumpty Field of Authority 1, shows indications of ground disturbance but forming no coherent pattern, however, in the north part of the field at SY 66708162 are the remains of a possible rectilinear banked enclosure sub-divided by a short east to west ditch. The earthworks within the field may represent part of a manorial complex associated with the nearly Old manor house (see SY 68 SE 9) or could be the result of depopulation of Radipole village. (Not mentioned by RCHM or Hutchins.) <2> The earthworks at Humpty Dumpty Field (centred SY 66638150) cover an area of 1.8 hectares, and are generally well-preserved, though covered in places by large heaps of gravel deposited by the owner to obscure the site. A survey plan at 1:200 is held by Mr W G Putnam of the Dorset Institute of Higher Education. Because of recent controversy and local press comment regarding this site no survey action has been taken for the present. <3> Humpty Dumpty Field, Radipole. Temporary scheduling elapsed in 1981 resulting in the DMV being partly bulldozed and destroyed. <5> The site of the medieval settlement is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project <8-10>.

Record last edited

Jun 28 2022 11:17AM