More information : 052254: Deserted Medieval Village at Knighton. (Nothing visible on air-photographs, RAF 1946). (1) No pattern of settlement visible on the ground. (2)
The earthworks at Knighton were surveyed by staff of RCHME Salisbury office as part of a project focussing on the earthworks of South Wiltshire. The following is abstracted from the detailed archive report:
The medieval and post medieval earthworks around Knighton Farm were surveyed in June 1986. They lie in the parish of Broadchalke, N of the River Ebble on Valley Alluvium. The somewhat confused eartwhorks represent the remains of a linear settlement overlying earlier fields. Later activity in the area, most notably at the W end, has damaged the earthworks, and they are truncated on their N side by the well-preserved remains of a water channel associated with the post medieval mill. The settlement traces represent the remains of between eight and ten properties along the N side of the present road. The fragmentary remains of further properties S of the road may be confused among the poorly preserved remains of earlier fields. A substantial mound in the NE corner of the surveyed area is clearly the site of a major structure, reputedly a chapel. The earthworks are bounded on their S and W by a substantial lynchet and on their N by a water channel serving the nearby post medieval mill. The archive report contains a detailed description of all the surveyed earthworks and a summary of the known history of the settlement. (3) |