Monument Type(s):

• RINGWORK (Late Saxon to 12th century - 800 AD to 1199 AD)

Summary

An early medieval (or possibly late Saxon) 'ringwork' (small earthwork fortification), with an unusual rectangular form.

Related records: None recorded

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA2892 - 1973 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA2893 - 1980 field observation by Shropshire County Council

Description

Moat? <1a>
Earthwork, ditch on S and E only. Related to a homestead moat, N falling steeply, W a damp hollow <1b>

Sited on the top of a steep river terrace above the south bank of the River Onny. The land falls away steeply to the N and W and more gently to the East. The site is a square earthwork with a bank and ditch on the South and East sides. The natural angle of the river terrace has been utilised by the construction of this bank and ditch on the S& E sides to form a square enclosure. There are no defences on the N and W sides due to the elevation of the site here being sufficient defence. The defences are very strong, particularly on the E side where the bank rises 1.8m above the enclosed area and 3.7m above the bottom of the 1.6m deep ditch. The bank on the S side rises c0.7m above the enclosed area. The enclosed area measures c 25m E/W by 20m. The enclosure is approached by an original ramp entrance in the SW corner, 2m in width. The ditch is dry. The site is in good condition and appears to be relatively undisturbed . The size and strength of the defences seem to rule against it being a moated site. Approx 25m to its south is a ditch or holloway running E/W and ending at a wood. It is c 150m long, and c 2.5m deep and 6m wide. M Watson FI 1980 <2>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, High score as one of 20 Ringworks <3>

Scheduled in 2001. Scheduling description: ->

-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a ringwork, situated at the western end of a low ridge above the steep southern valley side of the River Onny. From this location there are extensive views of Onny valley and the surrounding uplands. The ringwork is rectangular in plan measuring approximately 42m north to south by 47m east to west. On the southern and eastern sides, where the ground gently rises, it is defined by a ditch between 7m and 8m wide. The spoil excavated from the ditch has been used to create a steep-sided, flat-topped mound raised by as much as 1.8m on the eastern side and up to 2.8m on the other sides. Along the southern and eastern sides of this raised platform are the remains of an earthen bank. The height of the bank on the southern side is considerably lower than that to the east, averaging 0.5m high. At the south eastern corner the bank stands about lm high and rises to 2.7m at the north eastern end. Within the interior, which measures approximately 21m by 25m, are slight undulations, which are considered to mark the positions of former buildings. ->

-> This ringwork is a fine exampe of a nationally rare monument type. Rectangular ringworks are very rare nationally, the majority being circular or irregular; the form of the ringwork is unusual in that the interior has been raised above the level of the surrounding land <4>

Unit 1: A probable mound of Medieval date, seen as an earthwork, and mapped from non-destructive fieldwork. EH Author: MGB Date: 19/01/94. <5>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2009. <6>

A small but strongly defensive earthwork has been constructed above a steep-sided bend in the terrace of the R Onny. The natural angle is almost a right angle, and a near square
enclosure has been formed by the construction of a large bank and outer ditch on the other two sides, plus some scarping of the natural. The bank rises 1.8m above the enclosed area and 3.7m above the bottom of the 1.6m deep ditch. The enclosed area measures some 25.0m E-W by 20.0m transversely, and it is approached by a ramp inthe SW corner. Moat-like in plan, but really too strong. Nonetheless, it almost certainly represents a Md dwelling site. Surveyed at 1:2500. <8><8a>

Sources

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