Reasons for Designation
Strip lynchets provide distinctive indications of medieval cultivation. They
occur widely in southern and south eastern England, and are prominent
features on the Wessex chalkland. Each lynchet or terrace has two
components, consisting of a scarp or `riser' and flat strip or `tread'. They
can be up to 200m in length, and whilst many systems include only two or
three lynchets, some have five, six or more - as in the present case.
The strip lynchet system at Bishopstone is in excellent condition and is a
good example of its type. Small scale excavation has indicated that the
monument contains archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating
to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.
Details
The monument, which lies in two separate areas, includes two groups of
medieval strip lynchets. They are situated 850m west of Ridgeway Farm in an
elevated location close to the Ridgeway, at the upper end of a dry valley
which runs down to the village of Bishopstone. The site has extensive views
northwards across the village and beyond that across the Upper Thames Valley.
The smaller and more westerly group of lynchets is oriented north-south and
located at the top of the valley. It consists of four risers and treads - the
scarps and platforms of such systems - and is 150m in length. The larger
group, some 50m to the east, contains eight sets of risers and treads, and is
260m in length. It occupies a distinctive location on the steep north-facing
side of the dry valley, making the earthworks visible over a considerable
area. Small scale excavation in 1954 and 1955 revealed details of the
development of the system, together with samples of environmental evidence.
A related group of lynchets survive on land flanking the southern margin of
the valley, but this group has been altered by post-medieval or recent
ploughing and has not been included in the scheduling.
All fence posts are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath
these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
28982
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
