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Monument details

Summary

A saltmound and drainage features, likely to be of probable medieval date, are visible as a mixture of earthworks and soilmarks on 1940s aerial photography. Examination of modern aerial photographs show that all features now appear to have been plough-levelled.

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• SALTERN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

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A saltmound and linear features, both of probable medieval or post-medieval date, are visible as an earthwork on 1940s RAF aerial photography [1]. The mound is kidney-shaped in plan and measures 143m (E-W) x 63m (N-S). The linear features are composed of a ditch and bank running between extant field drains at the western end of the mound. They are initially aligned NW-SE and run for 40m before turning through a right angle at the saltmound and running for a further 45m aligned NE-SW. The bank flanks the eastern side of the ditch and appears to partially overlie the saltmound. It is not clear whether these features derive from drainage related to salt production or are boundary features. Examination of modern aerial photographs suggests the earthwork elements of the features have now been plough-levelled [2]. The precise date of the features is unclear but they are likely to be medieval in date. The features were not visible on the Ordnance Survey 1877 edition [3].

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [4].

This is likely to be one of the 16 saltmounds referred to in TR 26 SW 5.

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

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1858-73, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1872-1897, 1877/1:2500 (Map). SWX11831.

<4> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<4> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<4> 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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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 and further reading

Related records