Monument record TR 02 NW 21 - Site of Medieval/Post Med Farmstead in Pilchers Field, near Brenzett

An abandoned medieval farmstead and an area of associated fields, or closes. It is situated near the north western edge of Romney Marsh on low-lying, artificially drained land around 1.3km north east of Snargate. The farmstead lies within the south eastern corner of the monument and survives as an area of raised, uneven ground containing buried building foundations and associated below ground remains. Pottery fragments and building debris found here during field investigation have been dated to the 14th century. The associated closes cover the remainder of the monument in an irregular grid pattern and take the form of at least six small rectangular fields enclosed by ditches which are now dry. Two local maps dating to 1653 and 1721 depict the farmstead buildings, and later cartographic sources indicate that the farmstead had become abandoned and was demolished by the mid-18th century. The monument is recorded as Old House Field in the Tithe Award of 1840. Scheduled. ( Scheduled Monument Notificatio02/07/99)

The SE corner of Pilchers Field (TR 02 NW 30) was the site of a house and a barn shown on maps from C17, the house almost certainly dated from the Medieval period. Fragments of tile, daub and pottery sherds dating from the C14 provide further evidence for this. The field was formerly known as Old House Field.(1)

Two local maps dating to 1653 and 1721 depict the farmstead buildings, and later cartographic sources indicate that the farmstead had become abandoned and was demolished by the mid-18th century. The monument is recorded as Old House field in the tithe award of 1840. (2)

<1> Anne Reeves, 1996, Romney Marsh Earthworks Survey 1995 (Unpublished document). SKE7801.

<2> English Heritage, 1965, Dover Castle (Scheduling record). SKE6594.