Monument Type(s):

• DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)
• FARMSTEAD (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

Scheduled Monument: The Lower Down site is a good example of settlement remains associated with a medieval fortification, illustrating the close association between a castle and its community.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA2824 - 1979 survey by the Ordnance Survey
• ESA2825 - 1973 field observation by the Ordnance Survey

Description

Earthworks and foundations of possible deserted Medieval village <1a>
These earthworks, within a pasture field on the N side of Lower Down Motte (SA148) comprise the old boundary banks and small lynchets enclosing three little fields, also a building platform, 10m x 7m at SO33698465. Probably a medieval or later farm site. Cropmarks visible on APs [<1b>] at SO335 847 but nothing seen on the ground, the field being under wheat stubble. OS FI 1973 <1>

Part of area included in Scheduling in 1979 <3>

Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, as one of less than 10 Farmsteads <4>

Scheduling revised in 1995. Summary of relevant part of Scheduling description: ->

-> To the north and east of the motte are a group of low earthworks which indicate the buried remains of a small settlement which was associated with the motte castle [more details in source]. These rectilinear earthworks represent the remains of a group of small enclosures bounded by banks and ditches, some of which functioned as small paddocks and stock enclosures whilst others were ploughed on occasion - faint traces of the earthwork remains of ridge and furrow are visible in places. Some of the enclosures, especially those to the north east of the motte, contained buildings, the platforms of which survive as low earthworks. The site is a good example of settlement remains illustrating the close association between the castle and its community <5>

Some detail of earthworks to the NE of the motte visible on LiDAR imagery. <6>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2007 and 2009. <7>-<10>

These earthworks, within a pasture field on the N side of Lower Down motte comprise the old boundary banks and small lynchets enclosing three little fields, also a building platform, 10.0m by 7.0m at SO 33698465. Probably a Medieval or later farm site. Cropmarks visible on APs (a) at SO 335847 but nothing seen on the ground, the field being under wheat stubble. F1 ASP 14-DEC-73. ->

-> The earthworks lie within a pasture field on the north side of Lower Down motte (SO 38 SW 2), upon a gentle east-facing slope. They comprise two, possibly three house platforms, measuring 8.0m in length, by 5.0 to 6.0m in width, cut back into the hillslope, and set of varying angles. The group, which is more probably a farmstead of Medieval date, rather than a village or hamlet, is enclosed on the north and west by two larger earthen banks set at right angles to one another, which measure 5.0m in width, and up to 0.3m in height. The bank to the west runs from the edge of the motte ditch northwards to a modern road, beyond which the line is continued for some distance as a modern hedgerow. That to the north runs east for 75.0m, terminating at the edge of a strip of woodland. Cropmarks are visible on air photographs at SO 335847, but nothing was seen on the ground that would account for them. The field is under young wheat. Site surveyed at 1:2500 onto Field Trace. (RAF/541/40/4386-87 5.5.48). <11>

The earthwork remains of two platforms. The northern platform is probably the platform described by the previous authorities. They were seen centred at SO 3368 8468 and SO 3370 8453 and mapped from aerial photographs. Around these there are various indistinct earthworks. The southern platform has a modern building on it. Oblique aerial photograph reference numbers: NMR SO 3384/1-4 23-NOV-1983 and NMR SO 3384/5-6 03-JAN-1987. <12>

Sources

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