Monument record MWX43123 - Boundary earthworks, Wickhambreaux Valley

Summary

Shallow earthworks are visible across an extensive area of the Wickhambreaux Valley 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 24484 62328 (990m by 940m)
Map sheet TR26SW
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish WICKHAMBREAUX, CANTERBURY, KENT

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

Shallow earthworks are visible across an extensive area of the Wickhambreaux Valley on 1940s & 1950s RAF vertical aerial photographs [1-4]. They appear to have been plough-levelled by the mid 1960s Ordnance Survey of the area [5].

The earthworks are composed of a dense network of interlinked banks and ditches covering an area 910m (N-S) x 1000m (E-W). They are interpreted as elements of field systems created on land reclaimed from the Wantsum Channel from the 11th century onwards. Multiple phases may be visible as some features appear to cut others. All features recorded appear to predate the field layout shown on historic Ordnance Survey mapping dating to 1877 [6], itself of probable late post-medieval date, as they demark significantly less regular enclosures and are on a very different alignment. It is possible that some features in the north of the are also related to water management serving the adjacent saltmound (MWX 43125)

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [7].


<6> Ordnance Survey, 1862-1875, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1862-1875, 1877/1:2500 (Map). SWX11831.

<7> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<7> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<7> 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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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)

  • <6> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1862-1875. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1862-1875. 1:2500. 1877/1:2500.
  • <7> Unpublished document: Cornwall Council Historic Environment Projects and Gloucestershire County Council. 2011.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.
  • <7> Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2011. South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report.
  • <7> 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 (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

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

Record last edited

Aug 13 2013 1:56PM