Monument record MWX272 - Abbotsbury Swannery
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Summary
Abbotsbury Swannery - first mentioned in 1393, duck decoy mentioned 1655-6
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
The Abbotsbury Swannery. Mentioned in extracts from the Court Rolls of the Manor of Abbotsbury AD 1393 and later in a Latin Memoranda Roll Exchequer Lord Treasurers Remembrance dated 1591, now in the Public Records Office. <1>
The Swannery, dating from the Middle Ages (first mentioned in 1393), is an enclosed area adjacent to the brackish lagoon 3/4 mile south of the village. In it are a roughly square pond, at any rate partly artificial, and a duck decoy, now with three pipes first mentioned in 1655-6. <3>
Name centred at SY 575840. The extent of the Swannery in its present form is as delineated. Its origin is attributed to the natural growth of certain grasses. No maps could be obtained during field investigation giving the extent of the Swannery as it was in medieval times. The area is now preserved as a Swannery and wild fowl sanctuary and is tended by a swanherd. "It is estimated that 800 swans inhabit the Abbotsbury Swannery. Natural grasses which grow here attract the swans". <4>
Sources/Archives (6)
- <1> SWX1540 Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Map 6in. 6 inch to 1 mile. 1903.
- <2> SWX1694 Article in serial: Rt Hon The Earl of Ilchester. 1933. The Abbotsbury Swannery. Vol 55.
- <3> SDO97 Monograph: Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England. 1952. An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West).
- <4> SWX1169 Unpublished document: Swatridge, G C. Various. Field Investigators Comments GCS. F1 GCS 23-MAR-55.
- <4.1> SWX8428 Verbal communication: Lexter. Oral: Mr Lexter (occupier), 8 West Street, Abbotsbury. Swanherd.
- <5> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 450561.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Location
| Grid reference | SY 57400 84100 (point) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY58SE |
| Civil Parish | Abbotsbury; Dorset |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 1 001 108
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 58 SE 5
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 450561
Record last edited
Apr 27 2023 9:55AM