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 relic 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 well-preserved and often visible
relationship between settlement sites, land boundaries, trackways, ceremonial
and funerary monuments allow significant insights into successive changes in
the pattern of land use through time. Within the open landscape of the Long
Mynd plateau there are several discrete plots of land enclosed by banks of
stone and earth, the majority of which are believed to date from the medieval
period, though earlier and later examples exist. They were constructed as
stock pens or as protected areas to accommodate both stock and the dwellings
of farmers and herdsmen. The size and form of the enclosures therefore varies
considerably depending on age and function. Their variations of form,
longevity and relationship to other monument classes provide important
information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practice
amongst the farming communities occupying this area of upland over a long
period of time. The better surviving examples are therefore considered worthy
of protection.
The enclosure on Nover's Hill survives well and is a good example of the
class. It will retain important archaeological information relating to the
materials and techniques used in the construction of the enclosure itself and
the buildings contained within it. The undisturbed interior of the enclosure
will contain important archaeological evidence relating to the age of the site
and nature of its occupation. Environmental evidence relating to the economy
of the inhabitants and the landscape in which the site was constructed will be
preserved sealed beneath the bank and in the ditch fill.
Details
The monument includes the remains of a small enclosure and building platform
situated below the summit of Nover's Hill. It lies on a gentle north east
facing slope, set back from the hill edge and sheltered by the summit of the
hill to the south west. The enclosure is well defined, roughly triangular in
plan, with maximum dimensions of 58m north west to south east by 54m
north east to south west. The west facing side of the enclosure is formed by a
curving bank and ditch, strongest around the south western, uphill, quarter
where the bank is up to 4m wide and 0.6m high. The outer ditch, which would
have served as a source of material for the bank is approximately 1.5m wide
and up to 0.5m in depth. It is possible that the bank is strongest in the
south west quarter to protect the entrance and the interior of the site from
any surface water running off the hill. The remaining north and east sides of
the enclosure are straight, forming a rough right angle at the north east
corner of the enclosure. They are formed by a slighter bank 2.4m wide and 0.4m
high with an outer ditch 1m wide and 0.2m deep. At the junction of the east
and west sides, the ditch and bank are interrupted, the latter curving to form
a simple inturned entrance 1m wide. Some 9m west from this original entrance
the bank is slightly lowered and the ditch is interrupted by a causeway 5m
wide; this appears to be a later adaptation. Immediately inside the original
entrance is a small sub-rectangular platform measuring 8m north west to
south east by 4m transversely, this is believed to be the remains of an early,
perhaps contemporary building. The northern side of this feature is formed by
a crescent shaped mound 4m by 3m and 0.6m high, the remaining sides by a low
bank up to 0.3m high. The remainder of the interior is roughly level, although
the buried remains of structures will survive below the ground surface.
MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.
