Settlement deserted - medieval

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in low-lying, open pasture, medieval church (WM025-011----) and graveyard (WM025-011001-) located to S. Today there are no surface remains visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs of a complex series of earthworks was levelled during a land reclamation scheme in 1984/85 (SMR file, 17/11/1993). These earthworks possibly represented the remains of a deserted settlement of possible medieval date with associated field system. The upstanding earthworks are clearly visible on oblique aerial photographs (CUCAP AOZ002/003/004; AOY089/; AYR019/020/021; AOY089) taken 12/07/1966 and 11/07/1969 respectively. A possible sunken road or hollow way is visible on aerial photographs with possible house platform and small rectangular shaped enclosures visible.
Upstanding series of earthworks described in 1984 as a substantial roughly circular-shaped enclosure which is subdivided into three major sections: The central enclosure is bordered by a number of small roughly rectangular-shaped enclosures which are defined by low banks, a number of regular field enclosures and one oval-shaped enclosure which surrounds a marshy area. The field enclosures appear to be late in date and encroach on the rest of the earthworks in places. The whole complex is bounded by a long meandering bank (A) visible from SW-W-NW. This unites two short stretches of an ancient road which are approximately one quarter of a mile apart. The long meandering bank (A) skirts the outer edge of the smaller earthworks but is incorporated in the W bank of the large circular enclosure.
This central enclosure is a roughly circular-shaped area (diam. 55m) defined by an inner bank, an intervening fosse and an outer bank. These banks (H 1-1.5m) are best preserved around the eastern arc. The long meandering bank (A) forms the western arc. The interior has a N-facing slope and has three large internal divisions.
There are four small, roughly rectangular-shaped enclosures defined by low earthen banks to N, NNE and NE of the central circular enclosure. There are three other small rectangular-shaped enclosures on the S side of the central circular enclosure. The middle of the southern enclosures is defined to N by the bank of the central circular enclosure and to S by a field bank. The small enclosure on the SE side of the central circular enclosure is overlapped by the cover of a field enclosure. It is also located within a large roughly triangular-shaped field enclosure (dims. 100m N-S; 40m E-W).
To of the large triangular-shaped enclosure is a large roughly oval-shaped enclosure which originally blocked off a marshy area or small lake. To S of the small enclosures are two large roughly rectangular-shaped field enclosures defined by low banks (H 0.3-0.8m). The dividing bank between these has been removed and a slight ditch remains. Some of these fields are blocked by the long meandering bank (A) on the W. The field enclosure (dims. 110m N-S; 30m E-W) to the W is the largest. The field enclosure (dims. 90m N-S; 42m E-W) to E is bounded by a line of trees on the E side.
The short stretch of ancient road (L 5m; Wth 8m) at the SW end of the long meandering bank (A) commences just beyond a line of trees NE of the old house of Churchtown and runs NE-SW between the N fence of a rectangular field enclosure (which forms the southern extremity of the complex) and the aforementioned bank (A). The road is defined by a low bank on either side and appears to terminate where a bank cuts across it. A similar layout is visible at the NE end of the long meandering bank (A).
The whole complex is probably multi-period with the central circular-shaped enclosure and the small enclosures to the N being the earliest features. The small enclosures to the S were probably levelled at a later date; that to the SW particularly as it has obliterated part of the enclosure. The field enclosures and long meandering bank A are probably c. 19th century in date.

Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien.

Date of upload: 03 September 2019

References

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com