More information : (Centred SK 986 285) (1)
Slight traces of earthworks on air photographs seem to indicate
that Bitchfield was once a much larger village.
A Church and a priest, and a mill, are mentioned at Billesfelt
(Bitchfield) in the Domesday Survey (2). (1-2)
Fragmentary amorphous earthworks are the only indications of
possible shrinkage. (3)
The earthworks described by authorities 1-3 were mapped from poor
quality air photographs as part of the medieval shrunken village
more accurately centred at SK 988 286. The following features were
identified:- a series of hollow ways, upto 210m long, centred at SK
9866 2867 and SK 9894 2871. Parts of six enclosures were seen as
earthworks, 20m to 40m wide, centred at SK 9885 2851 and SK 9895
2874. Also recorded was a crewyard, approximately 12m wide, centred
at SK 9886 2874. To the east of the present village are three blocks
of ridge and furrow, approximately 140m long (centred at SK 9915
2851)
(Morph No. LI.798.6.1 - 6.7)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
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