Monument Type(s):

• OPEN FIELD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• RIDGE AND FURROW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)
• ROAD (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• ENCLOSURE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

Area of earthwork ridge and furrow, former route of the road, and an enclosure of medieval to post medieval date.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA2573 - 1986 survey of Offa's Dyke and field system at Dudston Fields by the RCHME
• ESA2574 - 1982 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA6601 - Geophysical survey and excavation of Offa's Dyke, Barker's Fort, Chirbury by D Hill & M Worthington (Ref: Site 110)

Description

Earthworks in pasture field immediately East of Offa's Dyke and South of Montgomery Chirbury Road, picked up by aerial photography in 1981 <1>

Features observed in passing by PAW in July 1982. Consist of ridge and furrow and the former route of the road <11><11a>

The earthworks to the East & West of Offa's Dyke are the remains of a field system (ridge and furrow) which possibly underlies and therefore pre-dates the Dyke <2>

1989 Aps show the ridge and furrow clearly. R & F replotted <4><5>

The RCHM surveyed the earthworks here and concluded that the ridge and furrow does not underlie Offa's Dyke <6><13>

MU.341.13 Unit No. 1: A probable area of ridge and furrow of Medieval date, seen as an earthwork, and mapped from good quality aerial photographs.->

-> Area also includes: MU.341.12 Unit No. 1: A probable enclosure of Post Medieval date, seen as an earthwork, and mapped from small-scale excavation. The site appears as a complete, regular enclosure, 40m x 45m, with 1 straight side, defined by 1 ditch, and is located at SO 2358 9738. EH Author: MGB Date: 25/03/94 <21>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2008. <22>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-91, High score as one of 91 Irregular Open Field Systems. <23>

SO236974 An enclosure known as Baker's fort, abutting Offa's Dyke was shown to be post Medieval in date <24>

SO 2358 9738. A Post Medieval curvilinear enclosure defined by a single ditch is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and has been mapped by RCHMEs Marches Uplands Mapping Project. The enclosure abuts a well preserved section of Offa's Dyke (SO 29 NW 39), giving dimensions of 45m x 40m. Its construction cuts through an area of Medieval ridge and furrow (SO 29 NW 61). The relationship between this enclosure and a Post Medieval enclosure recorded as SO 29 NW 38 is not clear. The two features may be identical. It is not possible to be certain whether or not the enclosure seen on the photographs is the same as the so called fort cited by [<24>]. ->

-> SO 2368 9741. Several contiguous fields of Medieval ridge and furrow are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and have been mapped by RCHMEs Marches Uplands Mapping Project. The fields lie on either side of a well preserved section of Offa's Dyke. The ridge and furrow does not cross the linear earthwork. Oblique aerial photograph reference number: <25><5><8>

Air photographs revealed a large rectilinear enclosure attached to the bank of Offa’s Dyke, 3km to the north of Chirbury, adjacent to Chirbury Road and east of the Dyke. This was investigated by examining early maps and by geophysical survey. These showed that the two postulated sides to the east and south were associated with the medieval ridge and furrow whilst the third side, at the north, appeared on an early map as the original line of the road. Investigation of a possible crossing point across the Dyke [ESA 6610] produced a substantial cobbled surface confirming that this was indeed the pre-turnpike roadway. The ditch of Offa’s Dyke was, however, present below the old road surface and was therefore not an original opening through the earthwork. The fourth side of the apparent rectangular feature was the bank of Offa’s Dyke itself, here standing to a considerable height with a deep ditch to its west. Within the postulated rectilinear enclosure was a horseshoe shaped feature with a small mound at its centre. An excavation across this feature found a shallow ditch that was little deeper than the visible surface evidence. This shallow feature appears to lie over the medieval ridge and furrow and is therefore presumed to post-date it. Samples were taken by Tony Clark of English Heritage and the feature was found to be modern. None of these features would appear to have any connection with the form and purpose of Offa’s Dyke which here continues as a single line of bank and ditch. <26>

Sources

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