Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A number of linear features, comprising a bank system, a possible flood bank and a further boundary feature, are visible as earthworks on 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs. Examination of recent aerial photographs indicates that these features have been partially levelled by ploughing.

The bank system lies at the western end of the recorded area and consists of two integrated banks; one is likely to be flood bank of medieval or post-medieval in date, the other appears to define an unmapped subdivision of a field mapped on historic Ordnance Survey mapping. The possible flood bank lies to the east of this system and runs c. NW-SE for 360m. It may represent a continuation of a possible medieval or earlier post-medieval flood bank recorded as MWX43344 to the east. A further ditch lies at the eastern end of this feature but the relationship between the two is unclear. It is not shown on any historic Ordnance Survey mapping but is likely to represent a previously unrecorded element of the present field layout, itself of probable late post-medieval date.

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• DITCH (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FLOOD DEFENCES (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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A number of linear features are visible as earthworks on 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs [1]. The features comprise a bank system, a possible flood bank and a further boundary feature.

The bank system lies at the western end of the recorded area and consists of two integrated banks. The northern of the two is 90m long and follows a curving NW-SE alignment. It is partially mapped on historic Ordnance Survey mapping [2] and appears to be a flood bank; it is likely to be medieval or post-medieval in date. The southern of the two is flanked by a ditch to the south and visible for a total of 90m. It appears to define an unmapped subdivision of a field mapped on historic Ordnance Survey mapping.

The possible flood bank consists of a single bank which follows a curving c. WNW-ESE alignment for 360m from the western edge of the bank system, the relationship between the two features is not clear. The bank is bisected by two field drains. It may represent a continuation of a possible medieval or earlier post-medieval flood bank recorded as MWX43344 380m to the east.

A ditch lies at the eastern end of the possible flood bank but the relationship between the two features is unclear. It runs for 80m on a SW-NE alignment and may continue the line of a field ditch to the south. This feature is not shown on any historic Ordnance Survey mapping but is likely to represent a previously unrecorded element of the present field layout, itself of probable late post-medieval date.

Examination of recent aerial photographs indicates that these features have been partially levelled by ploughing[3].

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

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1858-73, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1872-1897 (Map). SWX11831.

<3> Google Earth, viewed on 02/06/2010 (Graphic material). SWX15704.

<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