Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 188391
Hob Uid: 188391
Location : Somerset Somerset West and Taunton Nettlecombe
Grid Ref : ST0440038072
Summary : A large later prehistoric or Roman sub-rectangular enclosure is visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs. Environment Agency 1m airbone laser scanning data (lidar) collected in 2016 confirms that the site is also still a substantial earthwork.It is defined by a ditch with an internal bank and encloses an area measuring 85m by 60m. It is situated on a north-east to south-west orientated ridge at between 195m and 210m above Ordnance Datum. The enclosure sits within a field with the name 'Castle Hill' on the 1838 tithe apportionment which suggests that earthworks were know there either in memory or reality (see Historic England Research Record 188395).
More information : ST 04403808. Crop-mark of sub-rectangular enclosure. (Note field name 'Castle Hill' to east. - ST 03 NW 15). (1) The 1947 air photographs show the enclosure clearly. It is sub-rectangular and approximately 100m long and 50m wide. The remains of an outer feature are just discernible on this photograph (2). Since then the field has been regularly ploughed and an aerial photographic transcription of the site is being undertaken (3-4). The enclosure described above can be seen clearly on aerial photographs from 1962. The cropmark is visible as three distinct areas of growth - two darker areas surrounding a lighter area. The lighter area appears to be retarded crop growth, suggesting the presence of a bank surrounded by a ditch on both sides. The lighter crop measures up to 12 metres wide, while the darker area is no more than 5 metres wide at its widest point. A break in the cropmark on the western side may represent a possible entranceway. The enclosure is most likely to be prehistoric in date, probably belonging to the Later Prehistoric period, or more specifically, the Iron Age. It could be the remains of an enclosed settlement or hillslope enclosure, and further survey is required. The area is regularly ploughed (5). The enclosure described above is also visible as cropmarks on Historic England oblique aerial photographs and as soilmarks on 2001 and 2010 Google Earth vertical aerial photographs. Environment Agency 1m airbone laser scanning data (lidar) collected in 2016 confirms that the site is still a substantial earthwork. It is defined by a bank partly flanked by ditches (measuring up to 4m or more wide in parts). It encloses an area measuring 85m by 60m. It is situated on a north-east to south-west orientated ridge at between 195m and 210m above Ordnance Datum. The enclosure sits within a field with the name 'Castle Hill' on the 1838 Nettlecombe tithe apportionment which suggests that earthworks were know there either in memory or reality (see Historic England Research Record 188395). (6-9)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : APs (OS 71 502 078-9, 9/9/71)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : A.L. Potterell, Air Survey Plotting Group No. 3.27/7/72
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : AP 1947 CPE/UK 1944 23-JAN-1947 NMR Collection
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : RAF 58/5159 (F22) 200-01 04-JUN-1962
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : Historic England Archive 33553_033-037 10-JUL-2018
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-201O [ACCESSED 24-SEP-2020]
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-2001 [ACCESSED 24-SEP-2020]
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : LIDAR ST0437 Environment Agency D0195689 XX-XXX-2016
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Enclosed Settlement, Rectangular Enclosure
Evidence : Cropmark

Monument Period Name : Later Prehistoric
Display Date : Later Prehistoric
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -4000
Monument Type : Enclosed Settlement, Rectangular Enclosure
Evidence : Cropmark

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Ditched Enclosure
Evidence : Cropmark

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Somerset)
External Cross Reference Number : 33827
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : HER Number (Exmoor National Park)
External Cross Reference Number : MSO7700
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : AF1304853
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : ST 03 NW 11
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Associated Monuments :
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 2007-04-01
End Date : 2009-07-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE
Start Date : 2018-04-01
End Date : 2019-03-31

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 188391