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Summary

A number of earthworks identified by Lidar and walkover survey may represent parkland features, a leat and a possible prehistoric enclosure.

Location

Protected Status

• Registered Park or Garden (II) 1001268: STOVER PARK

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENCLOSURE (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC? (Between) to 42 AD? (Between))
• LEAT (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD (Between) to 2000 AD (Between))
• EARTHWORK (XVIII to Late 20th Century - 1701 AD (Between) to 2000 AD (Between))

Full description

Unattributed, 2021, Restoring Stover Park. Archaeological Surveys. Lidar Assessment, Areas 6-7 (Report - non-specific). SDV366261.

A very slight curvilinear bank centred at circa SX8400074570 appears to enclose a roughly circular area circa 95m in diameter. This might simply be associated with the possible former parkland walks / leats but could be evidence of an enclosure of prehistoric date.

Passmore, A. + Rainbird, P., 2021, Restoring Stover Park. Report on Archaeological Surveys., 10; Figs 4-5 and 7; Plates 6-8; Appendix 1 (Report - Survey). SDV366260.

The consultation of historic mapping and Lidar data as part of area 6 extended west into the northern half of the field. It identified several earthworks which were then ground-truthed through walkover survey.
Immediately south of the ornamental canal broad hollows are identifiable as earthworks (ID18). These may be the remains of parkland walks or pre-emparkment field boundaries. It is possible some are natural in origin, whilst a west-east aligned hollow could be the remains of a former water channel or leat associated with the Saw Mill to the east
A very slight curvilinear bank (ID19) centred at appears to enclose a roughly circular area circa 95m in diameter. This might simply be associated with the possible former parkland walks/leats but could be evidence of an enclosure of prehistoric date.
Analysis of aerial photographs, mostly of recent date, have identified further possible features of interest. These include a northeast to southwest aligned ditch that appears to extend further southwest beyond the carriage drive into the field north of Stover House where further parallel features are visible. The southern and westernmost earthworks within Feature ID 18 correspond with cropmarks on aerial photographs. There are further cropmarks to the south, whose appearance varies on different aerial photographs. Most are aligned at right angles to the southernmost earthwork, but in some aerial photographs extend over this to join the next earthwork. A black and white aerial photograph of 2014 shows further parallel cropmarks, giving a much denser arrangement of features. Others are aligned east to west and northwest to southeast aligned roughly down the hillslope.
A walkover survey of the field identified few of the earthworks or cropmarks recorded during the desk-based assessment. Only the southwest side of the possible enclosure-type feature was identified, within a shallow combe in the centre of the field; the remainder is a flat area above a break of slope, and it is possible that the north and east sides actually represent a subtle natural break of slope representing part of a promontory. This appears to be reflected in the position and angle of the corner of the ornamental canal to the north. The mapped rectangular enclosure to the north has been removed, but a row of seven trees remains. In the southeast corner of the field some possible terracing, which might correspond with some of the cropmarks was identified.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV9169 - Restoring Stover Park (Ref: ACD2341/1/0)

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