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Summary

Earthworks of a D-shaped moated enclosure approximately 160m by 120m, situated on the south western end of a low promontory. The southern and western arms of the moat follow natural contours so that the interior of the enclosure is 0.5m higher than the ground outside. The north eastern arm runs straight across the promontory; here the ditch is deeper, carrying a diverted stream, and there are no banks. The eastern half of the island is artificially raised by about 2m and on top of this plateau is a rectangular building platform, approximately 12m by 15m. A 2m deep pit on the lower western half of the island is an old quarry. An infilled ditch, about 10m wide, runs adjacent to the western arm of the moat on a north to south alignment; this was a drain, but also served to strengthen the moat.
Originally interpreted as a Danish earthwork but almost certainly a later, medieval, moated site.
The site is a Scheduled Monument.

Full Description

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Record Cards, OS: TL 13 NW 17 (Unpublished document). SBD10879.

[TL 118 350] A Danish earthwork, known as 'Church Panel' at Shillington, Beds. It has the characteristic 'D' shape, with a stream forming the straight side (Bedfordshire Magazine, 8, 1962, pp. 235-40 (J. F. Dyer)).
[The evidence for a Danish origin is purely circumstantial; there was great activity in the area during the campaigns of Edward the Elder; the earthwork is in a low-lying position with a stream as an essential part; it has parallels in Denmark (Hedeby and Birka) and in other likely Danish works in Bedfordshire (notably The Hillings, Eaton Socon, excavated in 1949 and shown to be 'pre-Norman') and is dis-similar to earthworks of other periods in Britain]. (G. S-L. 8.3.63).

The earthwork consists of a ditch, outer bank and weak, higher-level, inner bank, defending the SW end of a low knoll which protrudes into low ground from the NE. The knoll end is isolated by an embanked stream (the chord of the 'D'), but this is almost certainly later canalisation and probably replaces an original ditch and inner rampart. On the top of the knoll within the enclosed area there is a shallow sub-rectangular depression, possibly the site of a building. There is also a small dis-used sand quarry (local information). There is now no trace of an entrance. Whilst the survey was in hand, Mr J Knight, of the Ancient Monuments Branch, M.O.W., visited the site to consider scheduling it. He stated that, in his opinion, it was a manorial site of c.1200, comparable to one recently excavated at Shifnal, Salop, but not yet published.
The name 'Church Panel' was confirmed by a local inhabitant, aged 96 years.
Mr. Freeman, curator of Luton Museum, was doubtful about the Danish attribution. During a visit, some years ago, he found late Medieval - 17th c. potsherds in the banks of the stream.
[Copy of 1:2500 survey plan of 12.3.1963 included]. (A. Clarke, Field Investigator, 12.3.1963).

"Church Panel", a probable Medieval earthwork described by Clarke. Examination of stream banks and the ploughed field to the NE produced a wide range of finds from R-B tiles to modern bricks.
Survey of 1963 (25") found correct. (NKB 6.11.1972).

Brief description and plan by all three authorities, but the purpose and date of the earthwork is a matter of dispute. B. Wadmore (Earthworks of Beds, 1920, pp. 225-7, plan & illustration) states that "the size, situation and the entire circumstances suggest….that the site was a manor." VCH (VCH Beds, 1, 1904, pp. 276-7, plan) notes that the surrounding low ground is subject to flooding, during which time the central knoll alone stands out, and concludes that "the place has very much the appearance of an old refuge station in the fens, such as Alfred may have made at Athelney". J. F. Dyer ( Archaeology & Landscape, 1972, (ed. P. J. Fowler) pp. 226, 228, 233, 235, plan) also concludes that the site was an outpost or a refuge and compares it to Athelney, but repeats his assertion in Authority 1 that it is a typical Danish site.
TL 119 350. Earthworks at Church Panel - scheduled. (DOE (IAM) List Anc Mons 3, 1978, 8)
Listed under 'Other secular sites and buildings'. (CDA 2.6.81)

<2> William Page & H. Arthur Doubleday (Editors), 1904, Victoria County History Vol I, Bedfordshire, Vol. I, 1904, pp. 276-277 (plan) (Bibliographic reference). SBD10574.

"Shillington - Half a mile to the north-west of the high hill on which the church stands there is an entrenchment, obtusely semi oval in plan known as 'Church Panel'. It encloses a squat knoll, a little less than 3 acres in area which must once have been an island in the midst of former swamps. The rampart is strong and continues round the curving sides outside its fosse which is 30' wide. A stream 8-10' broad flows past its straight northeastern flank banked up along a great part of its course both within and without the enclosure. The knoll is highest at its south east end, and is there scarped down to the ditch to a depth of some 10', but falls gradually towards the northwest where a large interior bank is added round the lower portion of the work. An old watercourse, strongly banked, runs past this end, touching the outer rampart. The neighbouring fields are crossed in various directions by wet ditches and banked up streams and 200 yards to the north a larger stream 12-15' wide, runs past, diked up well above the level of the low-lying lands. In flood times all this low ground is covered and the knoll above stands out. But for the banks which confine the streams it would lie continually under water. There is a small oblong sinking, near a disused gravel pit on the top of the knoll which should be examined for foundations. The place has very much the appearance of an old refuge station in the fens such as Alfred may have made at Athelnery. Homestead enclosures were assocaited with more serviceable land.

<3> Beauchamp Wadmore, 1920, Earthworks of Bedfordshire, p. 225, sketch facing p. 226, plan on p. 226 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10706.

"Church Panel would appear wholly of an artificial nature rising as it does out of a piece of low lying marsh land. It is now divided from the higher ground on the east by a brook, twelve to fifteen feet wide with almost vertical banks which suggest along with the old cuttings in the marsh that they have been artificially formed not for defense but got the purpose of drainage.
The question that suggests itself then is: In what relation did the brook stand to the earthwork? In my opinion, none, the brook did not exist. But I venture to think that the brook is the site of the fosse of the earthwork on the eastern face into which the water from the higher land was drained. There are no traces to the east of the brook of any lines of defence.
If my inference is correct, then the entire work was a complete oval. Its defences as we see them today consist of a vallum and moat, the outer bank of which is artificially raised above the land of the marsh.
The size, situation and the entire circumstances suggest to me that the site was a manor.

<4> P. J. Fowler (ed), 1972, Archaeology and the Landscape, "Earthworks of the Danelaw Frontier" (J. F. Dyer) (Bibliographic reference). SBD11030.

Eight and a half miles south-west of Beeston lies a second D-shaped earthwork at Woodmer End, Shillington, known locally as Church Spanel (in some books Church Panel; pl. XX). Here rising nearly 15 feet above meadows once liable to flood, is an artificially fortified gravel island, with a stream on one side and a stong D-shaped outer bank, with a wet inner ditch, and a slight inner bank surrounding the remainder. Measuring only 550 feet by 350 feet, this earthwork is decidedly smaller than Beeston. Its marshy situation, taking advantage of an existing hillock, is typical of sites in the Danish homeland, as well as those chosen by the Saxons (cf. Athelney). It is more likely to have been an outpost or refuge, rather than a base camp as Beeston may well have been. Prior to modern drainage the stream on the north-eastern side would have been navigable by boats of shallow draught, thus affording a quick 'get-away' leading into the river Ivel.
[Plans of the site included].

<5> Bedfordshire Magazine, Vol. 8, 1962, pp. 235-240, "Danish Earthworks" (J. F. Dyer) (Serial). SBD10543.

Brief description - suggestion of Danish origin. St Joseph AP.

<6> James Dyer, 1969, Discovering Regional Archaeology: Eastern England, p. 7 (Bibliographic reference). SBD10905.

Brief description - suggestion of origin as "a Danish frontier post, established close to the Danelaw boundary after the treaty between Alfred and Guthrum in AD 886.

<7> Bedford Archaeological Society, List of Moated Sites (Unpublished document). SBD10794.

"Rampart and ditch surrounding a raised area of about 3 acres. ?Danish camp (ref. VCH 1, p. 276, Wadmore p. 225, Beds Mag 8 p. 237).

<8> 1937, Bedfordshire Regional Planning Authority Report, p. 187 (Unpublished document). SBD10783.

"At Shillington there is a semi-oval entrenchment known as Church Panel enclosing a knoll rather less than 3 acres in area which must once have been an island in the swamps. It was probably a refuge station, such as Alfred may have made at Athelney."

<9> Transcripts of comments made by individuals to members of HER staff, Pers Comm "M A" October 1971 (Verbal communication). SBD10740.

This earthwork may possibly be connected with Lower Gravenhurst DMV - see card 724.

<10> Department of the Environment, Notification of Scheduling, or an Affirmation or Revision of Scheduling, Ministry of Public Buildings and Works Letter, ref. AA.41753/1, 27/1/1965 (Scheduling record). SBD12255.

Scheduled 11 January 1965 - letter in box files, maplet attached.

<11> 1972, County Tour Leaflet, 1972 (Unpublished document). SBD11066.

Includes description of site by James Dyer and discusses both his view of a Danish origin and alternative views that it is a medieval moated site. Notes a proposal for a sewage works within the site in 1961 which after objections was subsequently resited outside to the north east.

<12> Rob White, Site Visit Notes, 16th November 1978 (Notes from site visit). SBD12188.

Stream to east of site cleaned with a dragline for Anglian Water Authority - River Ivel Drainage Board during late September/October 1978, spoil being dumped on western bank of ditch. No significant dating material was noted in this spoil - mainly C20 debris, some post-med pottery in SW corner.
The fields surrounding the earthwork were ploughed in early November 1978 including part of the scheduled monument - the "appendages" to the north and west - despite Mr Lamb being aware, following a meeting with Mr Sherlock of the DoE, that they were included in the scheduled area. Again no dating material was noted in the immediate surrounding ploughed area; some animal bone was observed in the destroyed bank to the north.
The surviving part of the earthwork was surveyed at 1:1000 by R White & A Allden on 16-11-1978. The ditch to the north of the site, following ploughing and cultivating was only visible as soil colour spreads. A slight spread of gravel was noted at TL 1184 3508 but this may have been debris connected with the sewage works.
Mr Lamb, a tenant farmer at Campton, bought the property in 1976? and claims to have then been unaware of any restrictions concerning the monument. He is unhappy that the financial return from this part of the land is not equal to that of the rest of his property. He says that he had arranged to have the site bulldozed flat but the contractor failed to arrive on site.

<13> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 6" Map, 1st Edition, 1887 (Map). SBD10573.

"Old Gravel Pit" presumably referring to the quarry to the north of the site.

<14> Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs (CUCAP), Cambridge AP: Index (Aerial Photograph). SBD10593.

LJ 59-60 (22/4/1953) Earthworks, Woodmer End TL 119350
LK 1-3 (22/4/1953) Earthworks, Woodmer End TL 119350
ANY 23-25 (16/5/1966) Earthworks, Woodmer EndTL 119350
ATT 22-23 (18/10/1967) Earthworks, Woodmer End TL 119350
AUA 14-16 (8/4/1968) Earthworks, Woodmer End TL 118350
BVU 84-85 (13/8/1975) Earthworks, Woodmer End, ¾mile NNW of Shillington TL 119350

<15> Rob White, Site Visit Notes, May 1981, Also photo F285/14 (Notes from site visit). SBD12188.

Drainage spoil still in position beside ditch. Becoming overgrown.

<16> Angela Simco, Site visit notes, December 1981 (Notes from site visit). SBD12095.

The Drainage Board spread the recent spoil, using a drag-line excavator, in Sept-Oct 1981. It was spread in the area to the NE of the footpath. The spoil consisted mostly of thick clay, & the resulting surface was therefore very rough.
The monument is not in any agricultural use. The surrounding land has been ploughed, & the area of the monument is getting overgrown, with long grass, but no scrub invasion yet.

<17> English Heritage, SAM Record Form, Site No. 12958, last edited 17.4.1989 (Scheduling record). SBD10803.

Large D shaped enclosure backing onto a stream. There is no bank, the defence consisting of a natural scarped slope 3m high with a V shaped ditch at the base and a large counterscarp bank c.1m high. There are traces of a rectangular building in the interior. The site appears to be a medieval domestic site, probably manorial, and medieval pottery has been reported from the site. The defences on the NE of the stream are slight. {AM 7}
Whole of the interior covered in rough unkempt grass with patches of thistles and nettles, especially thick to E alongside stream. Large depression of irregular shape noted to W. Banks fringed with hawthorn to NW. {H. Paterson (Field Monument Warden), 27/9/1982}
Suggestion site may be 'Danish Camp' of Alfred or Edward the Elder. {Beds SMR}
The derelict appearance of the site has increased since last visit. Rough grass, nettles, thistles cover the site with elder scrub encroaching from E. Three footpaths are evident crossing the area. Plough damage to the banks is apparent to W, S and SE, where monument adjoins arable field. This causing a 'stepped profile' to some 20cms in places. Small scale map and extreme irregularity of scheduling line, make exact area difficult to assess. {H. Paterson (FMW), 24/10/1985}
Visited 'en passant' to monitor plough damage noted on last visit. Cutting into banks, in some places to 30cms noted throughout the W circuit of banks. Some slippage noted in bank adjacent to stream in SE corner, with bonfire remains in this hollow. Interior still under rough grass and thistles, with some mole activity. {H. Paterson (FMW), 6/2/1987}
Interior still thickly covered with unkempt grass/thistles, with scrub on some areas. Plough continues to encroach to W and S, though this would be difficult to substantiate from small scale scheduling maplet. However, outer bank shown on large scale maplet obtained from Beds CC would suggest that outer bank has definitely suffered plough encroachment, with bank spread into field. Some dredging of stream has taken place to N, with silt spread on bank; this just intruding into SA. {H. Paterson (FMW), 8/6/1988}

<18> Bedfordshire County Council, 1970 - 2000s, HER Photograph Archive, F622/29-31, 16/2/1988 (Photograph). SBD10506.

Images of site before stream clearance.

<19> Bedfordshire County Council, 1970 - 2000s, HER Photograph Archive, F643/18a, 14/9/1988 (Photograph). SBD10506.

View looking east from TL 1184 3508 after dredging.

<20> Bedfordshire County Council, 1970 - 2000s, HER Photograph Archive, F954/2A-5A, May 1994 (Photograph). SBD10506.

Images of site.

<21> Bedfordshire & Luton Archives and Records Service Documents, BLARS: Z56/134-135 (Unpublished document). SBD10551.

See also [?St Joseph] aerial photographs in County Record Office.

<22> Department of the Environment, Ancient Monuments Record Form (Unpublished document). SBD11883.

Description: Large D-shaped enclosure backing on to a stream. There is no bank the surface consisting of a natural scarped slope 3.048m high with a V-shaped ditch at the base, and a large counterscarp bank approx 1m high. There are traces of a rectangular building in the interior. The site appears to be a medieval domestic site, probably manorial, and medieval pottery has been reported from the site. The defences on the NE of the stream are slight <AM7>. Whole of interior covered in rough unkempt grass with patches of thistles and nettles. These especially thick to E alongside stream. Large depression of irregular shape noted to W. Banks fringed with hawthorn to N.W. <H. Paterson 27/9/1982> Suggested site may be Danish Camp of Alfred or Edward the Elder <Beds SMR>.

Site Management: Spoke to Mr Lamb [Owner]. Site is left as rough grass. The …... area with thistles to S is result of material dredged from stream and spread over the area by Waterboard in 1981. Mr Lamb is extremely ….. by the fact that 30 acres of land, including the 6 acres of the scheduled area was purchased by him without the knowledge of the Scheduled Monument status of the land and the attendant restrictions on cultivation. As the purchase was made in order to ….. capital to realise when he retires and leaves his present tenancy the loss of revenue on 6 acres at £1500 per acre will be considerable. I have suggested to A M the possibility of minimal cultivation being allowed within the scheduled area providing a sufficient margin is left around the bank and ditch area (see correspondence Oct 1982). Mr Lamb appears to be genuinely interested in the monument and aware of the importance of preserving the heritage but has found himself in a difficult situation , which apears to be not of his own making. I feel this could be a case where with some give and take a compromise could be reached without the monument suffering. Interference has already taken place in the form of quarrying (DB not happy with idea).

<23> Bedfordshire County Council, Planning Dept File, 12/1977 - 5/1988 (Unpublished document). SBD11426.

Correspondence and plans re. possible agricultural damage to site by the farmer, drainage clearance works, and possible re-routing of footpaths.

<24> Bedfordshire County Council, Planning Dept File, 11/1990 - 11/1991 (Unpublished document). SBD11426.

Letters and memos and notes of meetings re. the possible purchase of the land encompassing the Scheduled area by Bedfordshire County Council.

<25> Bedfordshire County Council, Planning Dept File, 6th May 1994 (Unpublished document). SBD11426.

Fax to English Heritage from Martin Oake re. proposed dredging of stream by Internal Drainage Board.

<26> Angela Simco, Comments, 14th October 1983 (Observations and Comments). SBD10509.

A D-shaped earthwork, of which the straight (north-eastern) edge is defined by a stream flowing north-westward towards the drainage basin of the River Ivel. The rest of the site is bounded by a dry ditch, from 11 to 14 metres wide, with a continuous external bank and a slighter internal bank in the north-western corner. The surrounding land was ploughed for the first time in 1978. The interior of the earthwork forms a noticeable natural knoll. There are the remains of an old gravel quarry in the north-western half, and a more regular sub-rectangular depression to the south-east. Apart from the latter, there are no internal features which may indicate the sites of demolished structures. The stream was cleared by drag-line in 1978 and the spoil spread on the adjacent part of the site (1). Plans of the site were published in 1904 (2) and 1920 (3). No significant changes have taken place since then, apart from the ploughing of an old drain line which ran close to the north-western edge of the earthwork but did not actually join it. It has been interpreted as a Danish fortification (4) but is more probably of medieval manorial origin.
[(1) as per Ref. 12; (2) as per Ref. 2; (3) as per Ref. 3; (4) as per Ref. 4]

<27> Bedfordshire County Council, HER Slide Archive, 522-4; 2193-5; 2441-2; 2448; 5134 (Slide). SBD10508.

Aerial photographs, images of earthwork plans & images of site.

<28> English Heritage, Notification of Scheduling, or an Affirmation or Revision of Scheduling, MPP23/AA 41753/1, 6/10/1992 (Scheduling record). SBD12102.

Letter and map showing revision to scheduled area. Site description.

<29> NMR/AMIE, HE NRHE Monument Inventory, 362485 (Index). SBD12367.

Earthwork enclosure, probably of medieval date. The earthwork consists of a "D"-shaped bank and ditch enclosure utilising a stream as the longest side. The date and the function of this monument are unclear, and the association of the earthwork with the Early Medieval period and in particular "the Danes" is based on the similarity of the site to other alleged Scandinavian earthworks in Bedfordshire and to sites in Scandinavia. The site may in fact be a medieval fortified manor. The earthwork remains of the enclosure and associated ditches were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage Wrest Park Environs survey.

<30> National Monuments Record, NMR Aerial Photograph, TL 1135/3-8, 10, 17, 19-20 (Aerial Photograph). SBD10595.

The earthwork traces of the D - shaped enclosure described by the previous authorities along with associated ditches or drains were seen centred at TL 1187 3499 and mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Wrest Park Environs survey. The NE side is formed by a stream and the interior of the enclosure has evidence of disturbance in the form of at least four hollows of varying size and shape.

<31> Andrew Miller, 1995, RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project (Archaeological Report). SBD12554.

A rapid examination of air photography (TL 1135/3-8, 10, 17, 19-20) shows the earthworks of the enclosure.

<32> Department of the Environment, Notification of Scheduling, or an Affirmation or Revision of Scheduling, List Ancient Mons 3, 1978, 8 (Scheduling record). SBD12255.

TL 119350. Earthworks at Church Panel - Scheduled.
Listed under 'Other secular sites and buildings'.

<33> Privately donated photos (Photograph). SBD10598.

Black and white oblique aerial photograph looking south west and showing earthworks of Church Panel at left centre. Taken in the 1960's according to the donor, Kevan Fadden (original source not stated).

Protected Status:

• Archaeological Notification Area (AI) HER384: CHURCH PANEL, moated site
• Scheduled Monument 1009591: Moated site at Church Panel
• SHINE: Water Management Features possibly associated with the Scheduled moated site, Church Panel

Monument Type(s):

• BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• WATERCOURSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• GRAVEL PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• FBD484 - ANIMAL REMAINS (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• FBD5558 - SHERD (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Events: None recorded

Sources and Further Reading

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