Monument Type(s):

• RINGWORK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: A good example of a ringwork (an early medieval fortified site quite rare in Shropshire), of a particularly unusual raised form. This was probably the manorial residence before Aston Manor was built in the 13th century.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA1673 - 1979 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA1674 - 1980 field observation by Shropshire County Council
• ESA1675 - 1991 - 1992 WB on watermain renewal at Aston Botterell by BUFAU

Description

Moated site situated on land gently sloping S to the stream. The moat island is terraced slightly into the hillside. It lies c 100m WNW of the church. The moat is ovoid in shape and is well preserved on the N and W sides and here the moat ditch is between 5-10m wide and c1m deep from the exterior and 2-3m high to the top of a substantial inner bank which stands up to c 1m high from the interior. This inner bank ends at the NE corner at which point there is a possible causeway crossing or it could simply be infilling. Also at this point on the outside of the ditch is a low mound c 5m in diameter and c 0.4m high of uncertain nature. The S part of the moat ditch has been largely filled in but is still clearly traceable as a broad hollow 0.5m deep and c 5m wide. The SE corner appears to be disturbed and is crossed by a probable recent causeway. Traces of stone are to be found along the inner face of the ditch on the N and W sides, this may be subsoil material rather than remains of a revetment. The island measures c 48 x 38m and its flat interior has no trace of any building platforms or other features, it appears to be relatively undisturbed. Adjoining onto the S and W sides of the moat are two conjoined external enclosures defined by low scarps and banks. Both of these are roughly rectangular in shape, the one on the S side being larger than that on the W. The latter's bank runs up to the outer lip of the moat ditch, and abutting directly onto its S side is the larger enclosure which then runs E along the S side of the moat. There are other earthworks directly next to the stream which may have connected with its water control. Aston Manor Farm (SA 11465) which lies c60m to the E has C13 stonework on the N wall of its E wing. M Watson FI 1980 <2>

To be proposed for scheduling as a ringwork <5>

In December 1991 BUFAU were commissioned by Severn Trent Water to undertake a watching brief during the excavation of a water main trench in the southern verge of the Aston Botterell-Loughton road in the vicinity of the moat. No archaeological features were observed during the monitoring of the excavation of this trench. This negative evidence suggests that the NW limit of the moated site and its associated features lay to the SW of the modern road <6>

In September 1994 the RAF produced an aerial image of the site using an infra red technique called IRLS <9>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, High score as one of 133 Moated sites <13>

Scheduled in 2001 as ringwork and former field boundary banks. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a ringwork and the adjacent sections of former field boundary banks. The ringwork is situated on a gentle south facing slope in an area of undulating land. It lies within the hamlet of Aston Botterell, 110m west of the 12th century Church of St Michael and 50m to the west of Aston Manor, built in the 13th century. It is probable that in the 13th century the manor house replaced the ringwork as the manorial residence. ->

-> The ringwork is an oval-shaped enclosure, measuring approximately 66m north-south by 74m east-west. The earthwork defences define an internal area approximately 32m by 40m and consist of an internal bank about 7m wide, composed of earth and stone, surrounded by a ditch also about 7m wide, enclosed by an outer bank approximately 3m wide. The northern half of the defensive circuit is much more prominent than the southern half. Here, the internal bank stands up to 1.lm high, the ditch is about 1m deep and the external bank stands about 0.2m high. To the south the banks have been reduced in height and the ditch, which has been largely infilled, survives as a buried feature. To compensate for the natural fall in the ground surface, the southern half of the interior has been slightly raised in order to create a level building platform. ->

->To the west and south of the ringwork are the remains of former field boundary banks, set at right angles to one another. These banks appear to be later than the ringwork, with one running up to its western edge. In order to preserve the relationship between the field boundaries and the ringwork a 30m long section of these banks has been included in the scheduling. ->

-> All fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included. ->

-> The site is a good example of a type of monument relatively rare in Shropshire, and its importance is enhanced by its proximity to the church and its likely association with Aston Manor. <14>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2010. <15>

<00> Shropshire County Council SMR, Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards, SMR Card for PRN SA 01200 (Card index). SSA20722.

<01> Burrow Ian, 1979-Jan-05, Site Visit Form, 05/01/1979 (Field recording form). SSA4876.

<02> Watson Michael D, 1980-Nov-25, Site Visit Form, 25/11/1980 (Field recording form). SSA4877.

<03> Cambridge University Collection of Air Photos (CUCAP), 1969-Nov-05, CUCAP AZX18 to AZX22 (5 Photos) (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16885.

<04> Cambridge University Collection of Air Photos (CUCAP), 1967-Oct-06, CUCAP ATS79 to ATS80 (2 Photos) (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16884.

<05> Allen C, 1991, Comment, 27/06/1991 (VERBAL COMMUNICATION). SSA4874.

<06> Jones A E, 1992, Aston Botterell, Shropshire: an archaeological watching brief, 1991-92 (Watching brief report). SSA4872.

<07> Musson Chris R, 1992-May-15, CPAT 92/C/0929 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA17224.

<08> Watson Michael D, 1981, Ringwork, Aston Botterel (Photograph). SSA4875.

<09> Royal Air Force, 1994, IRLS Image (Photograph). SSA4873.

<10> Musson Chris R, 1992-May-15, CPAT 92/MB/0622 to 0624 (3 photos) (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16886.

<12> Musson Chris R, 1992-May-15, CPAT 92/MB/0677 to 0679 (3 photos) (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA16887.

<13> Horton Wendy B, 1990/ 1991, MPP Evaluation File, Moated Sites (TEXT). SSA20084.

<14> English Heritage, 2001, Scheduling Papers (New Scheduling, 18/09/2001) (Scheduled Monument notification). SSA20686.

<15> Shropshire Council, 2010-Mar-2, SA1003_155 to SA1003_164 and SA1003_166 (11 photos) Flight: 10_SA_03 (Oblique aerial photograph). SSA26421.

Sources

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