Reasons for Designation
Medieval rural settlements in England were marked by great regional diversity
in form, size and type, and the protection of their archaeological remains
needs to take these differences into account. To do this, England has been
divided into three broad Provinces on the basis of each area's distinctive
mixture of nucleated and dispersed settlements. These can be further divided
into sub-Provinces and local regions, possessing characteristics which have
gradually evolved during the last 1500 years or more.
This monument lies in the West Wessex sub-Province of the Central Province, an
area characterised by large numbers of villages and hamlets within
countrysides of great local diversity, ranging from flat marshland to hill
ridges. Settlements range from large, sprawling villages to tiny hamlets, a
range extended by large numbers of scattered dwellings in the extreme east and
west of the sub-Province. Cultivation in open townfields was once present, but
early enclosure was commonplace. The physical diversity of the landscape was,
by the time of Domesday Book in 1086, linked with great variations in the
balance of cleared land and woodland.
Details
The monument includes the site of the medieval settlement remains at
Brockington, situated on gently sloping ground to the west of the River
Allen, on Cranborne Chase. The settlement now survives as a series of
earthworks which extend over an area of about 2ha and was surveyed by the
Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England in 1975.
The settlement includes two well-defined hollow ways which are likely to
represent roads or droveways. The first lies to the north, is aligned north
east by south west, extends for about 200m and is visible as an earthwork 4m
wide and up to 1m deep. This is bounded on either side by a series of
enclosures or `closes' which are likely to represent individual properties.
Within these, there are several artificial platforms which might represent the
sites of buildings. A second hollow way to the east is aligned north west by
south east and runs for a length of 150m. This hollow way is 4m wide and about
0.7m deep and joins the first example at a junction situated within the north
eastern area of the settlement. Four closes adjoin the eastern hollow way on
the western side (others may have been situated to the east, but have since
been levelled by ploughing).
The date of the settlement and size of the population is obscure, although
figures quoted for the parish in the 14th century Subsidy Rolls and 17th
century Hearth Tax returns are likely to have included the Brockington
totals. Brockington lies on the opposite side of the river from the
broadly contemporary settlement site at Knowlton, the subject of a
separate scheduling.
The two settlements lie within different parishes and were always distinct
from one another.
Brockington Farm, which lies to the south west, dates from the 17th century,
but might have earlier origins.
All gates and fenceposts which relate to the modern field boundaries and
the boundary wall running along the north western side are excluded from
the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
35213
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
