NHER 68440 (Monument record) - Undated drainage features

January-February 2023. Earthwork Survey.
Analytical earthwork survey undertaken ahead of proposed habitat improvement works (Fields F-H).
Features of note in the westernmost field (Field F) include a small irregular enclosure at TG 4811 0723 (Feature 17) that measures c.16m by 10m. A platform at the western end of the field (TG 4804 0719; Feature 16) is covered by the demolition rubble of a concrete building. Various north-to-south aligned drainage features in this field and that to the west (Field E) to not extend to the north of the adjacent railway line and are therefore likely to be of fairly recent date. Several narrow, sharply cut drainage ditches at the eastern end of the field possible represent repurposed natural channels and potentially formed small enclosures (Features 22-24). Ten discrete raised earthworks of unknown purpose are also present in the south-east corner of the field (TG 4834 0733; Feature 25). These consist of four pairs of parallel banks and two single examples, all of which are between 10m and 12m long and c.0.1m high.
A number of what appear to be repurposed natural drainage channels were also identified in the central field (Field G), including two adjacent semi-circular features at TG 4844 0744 that had possibly been recut to form small circular enclosures (Features 28 and 29). Recent aerial imagery suggests these features have been widened in recent years, so their original shape and function is uncertain. This system of drainage channels is connected to a square possible sheep cote (Feature 29) that had previously been identified on aerial photographs (NHER 42189; Feature 30).
It is suggested that raised north-north-east to south-south-west aligned elements in this field and that to the east (Field H) may represent elements of an earlier field system (Features 31, 32, 38 and 39)
A north-east to south-west aligned ditch and bank earthwork that continues into the field to the east (Feature 26/37) is possibly a continuation of one of two similarly-aligned features seen approximately 500m to the south-west (see NHER 42446). It is suggested that an east-north-east to west-south-west aligned bank feature at the northern end of the eastern field (Feature 36) is potentially the continuation of the other feature seen to the south-west. It is though perhaps more likely to have one been a former continuation of the similarly-aligned drainage ditch on the opposite side of the railway line.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 August 2024.