Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Two inter-linked ditches are visible as a mixture of cropmarks and earthworks on 1940s aerial photography. Recent aerial photography indicates that the earthwork elements now appear to have been wholly-levelled. They are similar to those belonging to the field layout shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map and probably represent previously unrecorded elements of this system. This field system is likely to be of post-medieval date and may also derive from land reclaimed from the Wantsum Channel.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• FIELD SYSTEM (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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Two inter-linked ditches are visible as a mixture of cropmarks and earthworks on 1940s RAF vertical aerial photography [1].

The more extensive of the two ditches runs east-south-eastwards from a field drain on a fairly straight alignment for 220m roughly parallel to the Stour, it then turns through a right-angle and runs toward Stour on a slightly sinuous alignment for 35m stopping at the Stour flood bank. The other ditch runs southwards off the main ditch, close to its turn, for 90m and also stops at the Stour flood bank. Both ditches are c.3m wide. Recent aerial photography indicates that the earthwork elements now appear to have been wholly-levelled, as that area is now a car park, whilst the other elements remain faintly visible as cropmarks as the remainder of the area is now a cricket pitch [2].

These features are similar, both in terns of alignment and dimensions, to those belonging to the field layout shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map and probably represent previously unrecorded elements of this system [3]. This field system is very rectilinear and likely to be of post-medieval date, it may also derive from land reclaimed from the Wantsum Channel.

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

<2> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Tile Ref: PGA_TR3258_2007-04-22 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1858-73, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1872-1897 (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