A shrunken medieval village and earlier prehistoric settlement remains at Walnut Tree Field

Scheduled area

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History & significance

Walnut Tree Field is a scheduled ancient monument comprising remains of both prehistoric settlement and a shrunken medieval village located in Dorset. The site preserves archaeological evidence of human occupation spanning multiple periods, with visible earthworks indicating the layout and extent of the medieval settlement that subsequently declined in size. The prehistoric component demonstrates earlier use of the landscape, whilst the medieval village remains, including house platforms and field boundaries, reflect the pattern of settlement contraction that affected many English villages from the later medieval period onwards. The monument's significance lies in its capacity to illustrate long-term patterns of human settlement and landscape use across different archaeological periods within a single location.

A shrunken medieval village and earlier prehistoric settlement remains at Walnut Tree Field is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1008750. View the official record →

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