Transcript Lane Leaflet - Corscombe.org

Common Lane
A healthy heritage trail
Route map and points of interest
Part 4 – Brackett’s Coppice Reserve (38 Hectares)
A Dorset Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve a Site of Special Scientific Interest
with access from Common lane. This is ancient woodland swathed with
wood anemones and orchids providing colour. The hay meadows are cut
annually and the pasture is grazed, creating fields of wild flowers.
Bechstein Bat
Early Purple Orchid
Pearl Fritillary
Part 5 – Wood Fold Hill, Farmers End and Corscombe
Farmers End
Junction
Pitts
Farm
Pitts
Farm
Pitts
Farm
Pines
House
Return from Brackett’s Coppice to Ocean Hill,
proceed towards Wood Fold Hill, one local
name that Thomas Hollis left unchanged, and
commonly written as ‘Woodfole’. The hill
provides easy burrowing which throws up the
under soil often containing fossils.
Farmers End, at the junction of the two
Corscombe branches, was the site of labourers
cottages, occupied until the 1930s, now in ruins.
Branch right towards Pitts Farm, one time the
George Inn and later the Corscombe Steam
Bakery, or branch left along Brick Kiln Lane.
Pass the lost Victorian brick works kiln to Pines
House. The house, and parts of the garden wall,
are made of local bricks.
Corscombe
Nestling on a peaceful chalk hillside , it has a varied
history. Visit the Fox Inn on the road that returns to
Halstock.
To become a ‘Friend’ and receive a regular newsletter
Contact: [email protected]
Fold here
To become a sponsor and help restore the lane
Contact: [email protected]
Linking Halstock and Corscombe in
West Dorset, Common Lane is a
medieval lane traversing two miles
through an Area Of Outstanding Natural
Beauty.
The lane is undergoing restoration
and is currently a track, suitable in most
parts, for well equipped walkers, horse
riders and mountain bikes with care. It
is closed to vehicles.
Roman Villa Plan and Common Lane
The Common Lane Project Group is creating a
partnership between the Friends of Common
Lane, Dorset County Council and Sponsors to
restore the lane. This will provide a
sustainable recreational route for a range of
users, safeguarding its environment, history
and nature.
Start Here
Part 2 – Clarkes Gorse
The next section of the lane passes 0.5 mile through ancient woodland,
through a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. The bordering hedges and
woodland form managed ancient woodland, which existed before 1600 AD.
The lane starts in
Halstock, 6 miles
From Yeovil
Lesser Celandine
Coppiced Hazel
Part 1 – Halstock
Halstock Golf Club
Roman Villa Reconstruction
The villa is pre-dated by evidence of
early Bronze Age activity, and
Durotrigian (pre - Roman Celtic tribe)
settlement. The Roman villa, was
established in the middle 2nd century
AD, 3 miles west of the Roman road,
between Ilchester (Lindinis) and
Dorchester (Durnovaria). Four Roman
periods of development have been
discovered, with impressive halls,
mosaic flooring and a bath house.
We recommend that you park in the
village, which has a shop stocked with
local produce; visit or stay at the Golf
Club, which is a few hundred yards
from the village along a good road.
The Club House has food,
refreshments and accommodation.
Proceed along the unmade part of the
lane passing the driving range,
crossing the site of a Roman Villa. The
site was excavated in 1967-1985.
Fold Here
Native Bluebell
Part 3 – Ocean Hill (121m, 400 ft approx)
Thomas Hollis named this, like many of the local fields based on his
philosophical connections. Branch for Brackett’s Coppice or Wood Fold Hill.
To Brackett’s Coppice
and Ryewater
Lane
Branches
Here
Panoramic views