Monument record MWX43155 - Boundary earthworks, Wickhambreaux/Stourmouth Valley

Summary

Shallow earthworks are visible across an extensive area of the Wickhambreaux Valley on 1940s & 1950s 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 25009 63062 (445m by 418m)
Map sheet TR26SE
County KENT
District CANTERBURY, KENT
Civil Parish WICKHAMBREAUX, CANTERBURY, KENT
District DOVER, KENT
Civil Parish STOURMOUTH, DOVER, KENT

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Shallow earthworks are visible across an extensive area of the Wickhambreaux Valley on 1940s & 1950s RAF vertical aerial photographs [1]. They appear to have been plough-levelled by the mid 1960s Ordnance Survey of the area [2].

The earthworks are composed of a network of interlinked ditches covering an area 430m (N-S) x 420m (E-W). They are interpreted as elements of field systems created on land reclaimed from the Wantsum Channel from the 11th century onwards. All features recorded appear to predate the field layout shown on historic Ordnance Survey mapping, itself of probable late post-medieval date, as they demark significantly less regular enclosures and are on a very different alignment.

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


<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2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document).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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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 (3)

  • <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 Unpublished document: Cornwall Council Historic Environment Projects and Gloucestershire County Council. 2011.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 Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2011.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

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

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

Record last edited

Jul 29 2016 3:15PM