HER 23578 DESCRIPTION:-

Undated scowles, located to the east and south-east of Edgehills Lodge, in Edgehills Plantation.

c.1900 - An unlabelled quarry-like feature, centre point 366550 215680, is shown on the 2nd series 25" OS map. {Source Work 5136.}

1975 - The area looks uneven on a Fairey Survey aerial photograph. {Source Work 615.}

1983 - A pit, centre point 366550 215680, is visible on Forestry Commission aerial photographs, and the area appears as patchy woodland. {Source Work 7232.}

1993 - Paul Wildgoose identifies numerous scowles of varying form in this area, ranging from small shallow pits measuring approximately 5 metres x 5 metres x 1.5 metres deep, to much larger features, many metres across and up to 20 metres deep. {Source Work 6353.}

1998 - Site 032 in the Entec report. The report describes a group of scowles within commercial plantation woodland. A series of scowles at a high density, with a variety of types. Mostly rather poorly preserved, but there are a few well preserved examples. {Source Work 5597.}

c.2000 - The woodland cover appears patchy at this location on the getmapping aerial photographic data held on COGIS. {Source Work 7233.}

30/07/2003 - This area was visited as part of the Scowles and Associated Iron Industry survey. An area of scowles of various shape and size were recorded :-

Two small, deep, vertical scowles were centred upon 366506 215680, c.10 to 15 metres apart. These were in good condition, both fenced off separately. One resembled a phreatic tube, and is possibly geological in origin.

Several small scowles, measuring approximately 6 x 6 metres (centre point 366512 215710) were recorded, some had mounds associated. These were in good condition. Depth range 0.5 to 1 metre. Photo. 193.

A large ravine-like scowle, forming a very vague V-shape, (centre point 366483 215740) was located within a fenced off area containing other scowles. Mounds were located in the vicinity. Depth c. 15 to 20 metres. A second scowle was also recorded within this area, measuring c. 10 x 10 metres, and c. 8 to 9 metres. deep. Both in good condition. Photo. 185.

Large area (centre point 366444 215787) containing approximately 10 to 15 small scowles. The southern-most three are within a fenced off area. Some scowles have mounds associated with them. Range in size from approximately 3 to 9 metres diameter. All appear to be in good condition. Depth range c. 1 to 8 metres. Photo. 186.

Curvilinear scowle (centre point 366489 215785) in good condition, measuring approximately 25 to 30 metres long. Depth c. 5 metres. Photo. 187.

Single scowle (centre point 366427 215815) containing much dumping, measuring approximately 15 x 10 metres, with c. 25% rock exposure. This had a large mound associated with it. Depth c. 8 metres. Photo. 190.

Large scowle (centre point 366439 215821) measuring approximately 20 x 15 metres, containing a large beech tree and a drystone structure which appears to have been built around a fallen tree trunk. Depth c. 10 metres. Photo. 188, 189.

A large linear scowle (centre point 366430 215846) measuring approximately 40 x 10 metres, with a channel leading c. 20 metres to the north-north-west. This was is good condition. Possible underground access was noted. Depth range c. 3 to 8 metres. Photo. 191.

Two pits alongside the track (centre point 366443 215894), one is fenced off. Visibility was very limited due to dense undergrowth, although the pits appeared to be in good condition. Depth c. 1+ metres. Photo. 183.

The extreme north (centre point 366410 215890) and south (centre point 366490 215620) of this area proved to be impenetrable because of dense undergrowth during the 2003 survey, although Paul Wildgoose had recorded features in these areas when he carried out his survey in the early 1990s.

2003 - This area was mapped at 1:10,000 scale as part of the English Heritage: Gloucestershire NMP project.

The earthwork remains of a single small quarry of unknown date cut into the Crease Limestone was seen on 1969 aerial photographs, centred at SO 6644 1588. This quarry may be an example of a Scowle, the local name for quarrying in limestone outcrops for iron rich deposits. This is known to have been carried out since the Roman period and carried on until the Post Medieval period. These features are by their very nature hard to date. {Source Works 4249, 7549 and 7163.}