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| HER Number | MWB16641 |
|---|
| Record Type | Monument |
|---|
| Name | Linear feature between West Woodhay House and Wilmot's Farm |
|---|
Summary
Parallel ditches seen as cropmark or earthwork crossing a field, representing a trackway or former drive linked to an avenue of trees
Other Statuses and Cross-References
- National Monuments Record No.: SU 36 SE 59
SU 3872 6320 to SU 3924 6308
Monument Type(s):
- TRACKWAY (Medieval to Late 19th century - 1066 AD? to 1900 AD?)
- TREE AVENUE (18th century to Late 19th century - 1761 AD (pre) to 1900 AD (pre))
Full Description
The Berkshire National Mapping Programme <1> recorded a cropmark or earthwork of a possible trackway or hollow way seen on air photographs <2> as two parallel ditches cutting across a field.
The alignment of this feature might suggest that it could be part of a driveway or avenue to West Woodhay House; a long-standing footpath also follows part of the route. A monitoring visit by the English Heritage Field Monument Warden in 2007 confirmed this interpretation.
Rocque's map <3> also shows an avenue lined with trees leading to West Woodhay house. This approach had become disused by the early 19th century when the parallel lines were interrupted by another road <4>, but the double row of trees has been reinstated within the garden of West Woodhay House, as seen in 21st century aerial photographs <5>.
Sources and further reading
| <01> | RCHME. 1995-1999. Berkshire - National Mapping Programme. [Unpublished document / SWB146801]
https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/NMP/ (Accessed on 14/01/2022) |
| <02> | 23/08/1964. OS 64.152/99/50. [Photograph / SWB146829] |
| <03> | Rocque, J. 1761. Rocque's Map of Berkshire. 1:35,000 (approx). [Map / SWB7242]
https://www.rct.uk/collection/700042/rocques-map-of-berkshire (Accessed 09/02/2021) |
| <04> | Abraham Dymock of Aldbourne. 1831. A Map of West Woodhay belonging to The Revd. John Sloper Situate in the County of Berks. [Map / SWB149824] |
| <05> | 2018. West Berkshire Council Aerial Survey 2018 (digital aerial photographs). Aerial Photo. Digital. [Photograph / SWB149532] |
Related Monuments
| MWB20895 | West Woodhay Park and Gardens (Landscape) |
| MWB3800 | West Woodhay House (Building) |
Associated Excavations and Fieldwork
| EWB885 | Berkshire - National Mapping Programme (Ref: 1064614) |
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