Enclosure on Haddon Hill, 360m north-west of The Batch

Reasons for Designation

The Long Mynd is the largest expanse of open moorland in Shropshire and is one of the most complete examples of an upland relict landscape in the western Midlands. It offers a considerable diversity of archaeological remains which provide direct evidence for the exploitation of this area of upland from the Early Prehistoric period onwards. The often well preserved relationship between settlement sites, land boundaries and funerary monuments give insights into successive changes in the pattern of land use through time. The enclosure on Haddon Hill offers important information concerning the management of stock during an early phase of land use. It survives in excellent condition and will retain archaeological information and environmental evidence relating to the landscape in which it was constructed and the economy of its builders. In its juxtaposition with other monuments of the same period, it contributes important information on the land use and settlement pattern of the prehistoric communities occupying this area of upland during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age.

Details

The monument includes a small enclosure situated towards the northern end of a narrow steep-sided south-west to north-east orientated spur. The enclosure is roughly D-shaped in plan with maximum dimensions of 54m north-east to south-west by 36m transversely and lies with its long axis along the ridge. It is constructed to make maximum use of the topography, the naturally precipitous slope of the spur on its south side being used as the southern side of the enclosure. Around the remaining sides a well defined bank and external ditch are employed. These are of a roughly uniform appearance, the bank averaging 2.5m wide and up to 0.6m high, the ditch 2m wide and 0.3m deep. There is no visible evidence of an entrance into the enclosure, although a modern pathway running along the ridge top, cutting through the bank 8m from the north-east corner and 11m from the south-west corner, could lie on the line of an original entrance. Some 20m from the north-west corner of the enclosure, a short length of bank, 10m long and 0.4m high, runs at right angles from the edge of the ditch to join the northern side of the enclosure with the steepening northern slope of the ridge. This, with the enclosure wall, would have effectively controlled any movement along the ridge top. The enclosure is not considered to be a defensive structure, all the banks are too slight, and it is probably a stock enclosure. Its design, using a cross-dyke style of construction, is similar to other prehistoric sites in the area, suggesting that it is contemporary with these sites and that it may be regarded as Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age in date.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 5 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

19129

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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