Monument record MWX43121 - Shallow boundary earthworks, Wickhambreaux Valley

Summary

Shallow earthworks are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. They are interpreted as elements of a field system created on land reclaimed from the Wantsum Channel from the 11th century onwards. They appear to predate the late post-medieval field layout shown on historic Ordnance Survey mapping.

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 23879 62341 (196m by 373m)
Map sheet TR26SW
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish WICKHAMBREAUX, CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

Shallow earthworks of a system of earthwork boundary features are visible on 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs [1]. Examination of modern aerial photographs does not show conclusively whether these features remain as earthworks [2].

The earthworks consist of a series of interlinked ditches and flanking banks, covering an area of 160m (NE-SW) x 120m (NW-SE), demarking at least 2 enclosures. The earthworks are dissected by a ditches belonging to the current field layout. A further ditch lies 150m to the north, demarking 3 sides of an enclosure measuring 55m (NE-SW) x 40m (NW-SE).

The features appear to derive from field systems created from land reclaimed from the Wantsum Channel between the 11th and 18th centuries. Although their exact date is unclear, they probably predate the current field layout, itself of probable late post-medieval date, as they are cut by it and have a significantly different alignment.

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [3].


<2> Google Earth (Graphic material). SWX15704.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<3> Cornwall Council Historic Environment Projects and Gloucestershire County Council, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document). SKE25954.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <2> Graphic material: Google Earth.
  • <3> Unpublished document: Cornwall Council Historic Environment Projects and Gloucestershire County Council. 2011. South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping.
  • <3> Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2011. South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report.
  • <3> Digital archive: Wessex Archaeology. 2009-10. South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Ref: 71330) (EWX10065)

Record last edited

Aug 13 2013 1:54PM