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National Trust HBSMR

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NT HBSMR Number:121308
Type of Record:Monument
Name:Fulking - Perching field system

Summary

Two long medieval strip lynchets associated with the deserted medieval village of Perching lying to the south. The top lynchet is approx. 210m long, truncated by modern ploughing on the northern end. The lower lynchet is slightly longer, approx 225m long, also truncated by ploughing to the north though with a turn downslope westwards before truncation.

Grid Reference:TQ 246 104
Civil Parish:Fulking; Mid Sussex; West Sussex
County:West Sussex
District:Mid Sussex; West Sussex
NT Property:Fulking Escarpment; London and South East
Map: All our Monument records are mapped in NT Heritage Records Online.

Protected Status

  • Scheduled Monument 1015125: DESERTED MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT AND ASSOCIATED CULTIVATION TERRACES ON PERCHING HILL

Other References/Statuses

  • Environmentally Sensitive Area
  • National Monuments Record Reference: TQ21SW23
  • National Park (South Downs)

Monument Types

  • FIELD SYSTEM (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

Two long medieval strip lynchets associated with the deserted medieval village of Perching lying to the south. The top lynchet is approx. 210m long, truncated by modern ploughing on the northern end. The lower lynchet is slightly longer, approx 225m long, also truncated by ploughing to the north though with a turn downslope westwards before truncation. They are on a west facing slope and the banks are approx. 3m high. From examination of the 1946 APs (3G/TUD/UK/157/Part II Frame 5140) an approximate measurement comparing the length of the strip lynchets in 1946 with those depicted on the 1:10000 OS map suggests that up to 90m has been lost over the last 40 years. The lynchets are completely clear of scrub in 1946 and may well have been cultivated in the wartime years. The classic length of a strip is 203m (220yds or a furlong). Clearly the top one now corresponds roughly to this measurement but if up to 90m has been lost then these strip lynchets are longer than that considered average (SAC 45 Ancient Cultivations by R. Blaker).

Sources / Further Reading

---SNA67973 - Report: Richard James. 2019. Monument Condition Assessment: Deserted medieval settlement and associated cultivation terraces on Perching Hill (List Entry Number: 1015125; NTHBSMR MNA Number: MNA127056).
---SZL25834 - Photograph - colour: Joy Ede. 01/01/1996. Fulking - Distant shot of Perching DMV. One of two for panorama. 16.
---SZL25835 - Photograph - colour: Joy Ede. 01/01/1996. Fulking - Distant shot of Perching DMV. Two of two for panorama. 17.
---SZL293 - Article in serial: G A Holleyman. 1935. The Celtic field-system in South Britain. 9.
---SZL39333 - Slide: Joy Ede. 01/02/1996. View towards Perching Hill showing the earthworks of the DMV, the strip lynchets and the IA lynchet. 24.

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • ENA2060 - Archaeological and Land use history survey Fulking Escarpment
  • ENA9348 - Monument Condition Assessment of deserted medieval settlement and associated cultivation terraces on Perching Hill

Related records: none recorded