Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A shallow circular earthwork, interpreted as a hay stack stance of medieval to post-medieval date, and a short bank are visible on 1940s aerial photographs. Although the function of the bank is unclear, it is thought to be an agricultural feature of similar date to the hay-stack stance. Examination of recent aerial photographs suggests that these features have been destroyed as the area is now covered by a wastewater treatment works.

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Unknown date)
• STACK STAND (Unknown date)

Full description

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A shallow circular earthwork and a short bank are visible on 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs [1]. The mound measures c.6m in diameter and is interpreted as a hay stack stance, a mound for the drying and storage of hay in the damp environment of a riverside meadow. Similar features have been recorded across the floor of the Stour Valley between Upstreet and the coast, see Related Monuments. They appear to represent an integral part of the medieval or post-medieval farming landscape in this area. The bank lies 60m west of the stack stance. It is 5m wide with rounded ends and follows a slightly curved NW-SE alignment for c.23m. Although its function is unclear it is thought to be an agricultural feature, perhaps an elongated hay stack stance, and to be of a similar date to the hay-stack stance.

Examination of recent aerial photographs suggests that these features have been destroyed as the area is now covered by Weatherlees Hill Wastewater Treatment Works [2].

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2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document).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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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

Related records