Monument Type(s):

• HOUSE PLATFORM? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• MOTTE? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• OPEN FIELD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• SHRUNKEN VILLAGE? (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

This site represents: a possible shrunken village of medieval date, a possible motte of medieval date, a possible house platform of medieval date, an open field of medieval date.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA2519 - 1991 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA4677 - 2000 - 2002 Shelton WTW - Llanforda Pipeline Assessment by SCCAS

Description

Apparently put on the SMR on the basis of a UCCAP AP of rather indeterminate earthworks around Eyton Farm <1>

APs taken in 1990 suggest that these features are no longer upstanding earthworks <2><4>

The fields to the west of the N/S road running through the hamlet are ploughed. No earthworks of any kind visible from looking over fence. The field to the east is pasture. There is a bank running near and parallel to the south side of the field, which would have formed the north boundary of an old road which can be seen on the 6ins map. There is a natural ridge running E/W across the field, the land to the N being lower. On walking across the field, faint and ill defined ridge and furrow could be seen. At the north end of the field this was pronounced, and the furrows have been re-used as drainage channels taking water into a stream running along the North side of the field ... The only other earthwork seen was a slight platform, c 30m N/S and 10m E/W near some large trees in the western half of the field. The large trees used to be on a field boundary shown on the 6ins map, but now removed, and the platform, although not aligned with the trees may be associated with the old field boundaries here. Otherwise, it could be a house platform. The earthworks are low but stable . The R& F would not survive if the field was ploughed. W Horton FI 1991 <5>

In June 1992 C Musson interpreted his 1990 photo [<4>] as a motte <6>

Interpreted as shrunken medieval settlement. An area of ridge and furrow earthworks was noted during the walk-over survey in the field immediately to the east of Eyton Pump House. The earthworks covered all but the westernmost end of the field; the ridges were spaced apx 12m to 15m apart from their centres, and survived to a height of 0.25m. These ridge and furrow earthworks represent the earthwork remains of medieval ploughing in one of the former open fields of the medieval settlement of Eyton. In the 19th century the field was known as "Upper Lower Ditches" [<9>] <7>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-91, Medium score as one of 91 Irregular Open Field Systems <10>

Photographed from the air by Chris Musson in 2003; photographs centred on the possible motte feature. <11><11a>

[Focused on circular feature, previously interpreted as a motte, at SJ 37388 14096 (see also <11>) ]: SJ 374 140 (Locality only): An examination of air photographs (1a) reveals a circular, ditched enclosure visible as earthworks. Directly adjacent to the enclosure, on its west, is another curving earthwork feature. Date uncertain, although a later prehistoric date was suggested. NMR SJ 3713/1; SJ 3714/1 <12>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.