Monument record MDO46899 - Earthwork, Bourton

[ST 76593057 to ST 76823069] Earthwork in a field NW of Bourton. <1>

ST 76593059 to ST 76703062 The earthwork consists of a lynchet, the slope of which is 5.0 m. wide measured horizontally, and 0.4 m. high, running E - W, and situated in a grass covered field which slopes gently to the S. At the W. end is a modern field entrance, and at the E. end a hedge which forms the termination. On the E. side of this hedge is a modern N-S sunken trackway, and beyond it a footpath which skirts the N. lip of an old quarry, now a fir plantation. Parallel to the lynchet on the S. side is a bank 5.0 m wide and 0.2 m. high.
The lynchet does not continue beyond the sunken way, as indicated in Authy. 1. It is undateable, and most doubtful if it is of a prehistoric nature; it may well be a comparatively modern agricultural work or demolished field boundary bank. <2>

From the lip of the lynchet to the top of the bank is 9.0m. The earthwork is insignificant, and it probably represents a disused trackway along the North side of a destroyed hedge, the remaining bank of which fits neatly into the existing field system. <3>

Recent (2022) LiDAR imagery <4> suggests that the earthwork bank described may be the southern side of a square feature, perhaps an enclosure, though the other sides are less distinct. This feature may be rectangular and extend into the field to the east.

<1> Corr. 6", Mrs.M.Harfield - 1951 (Map). SDO19708.

<1.1> Harfield, Mrs Mary, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments:, 1951 (Verbal communication). SDO18625.

<2> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 03-FEB-56 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<3> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F2 JR 13-MAR-56 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<4> Environment Agency, 2022, Boundary/Footprint/LIDAR_Composite_DTM_1m_2022 (Aerial Photograph). SDO20031.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 202600 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 1 2023 3:08PM