Nelson & His World

I've just been sent a query by somebody about trees at Little Woodcote in Surrey - Roy and I once published a paper on prehistoric flints from that area, so it was thought that we might be able to help with a historic puzzle! A triangular field in Woodmansterne parish, to the west of Little Woodcote, contains seven circular depressions of various sizes and depths, and are now full of scrub and some large old rotten tree stumps as well. They are shown on an old 25 inch Ordnance Survey map and on the Tithe map, where the field is called Chump Piece. Local legend has it that they were dug to celebrate one of Nelson's victories, Trafalgar or the Nile, and represent the disposition of the fleet.

My own view is that they represent nothing much at all and that the legend is wishful thinking, but I thought it worth mentioning here in case one of you knows all about this site. The field, I am told, is part of the Downlands Countryside Management Project, which has a 90+ acre farm, so they are interested in finding out the history.

Lesley

http://www.adkinshistory.com

Lesley

Sorry this doesn't actually address your question - but I am just interested if the OS map really does read "CHUMP Piece" or is it "CLUMP Piece".

I remember doing a bit of work on the Nile clumps in Wiltshire some years ago and learned that CLUMP is not just a generalisation but also an acknowledged term in arboriculture.

Thanks

MB

Mark,

The letter to me with the query was handwritten, but that bit was carefully written, and it says Chump. You're right, though - it sounds weird, so I suspect it has been copied incorrectly!

Lesley

http://www.adkinshistory.com