The Bury: a ringwork and associated earthworks 100m north of Lavendon Church

Reasons for Designation

Ringworks are medieval fortifications built and occupied from the late Anglo-Saxon period to the later 12th century. They comprised a small defended area containing buildings which was surrounded or partly surrounded by a substantial ditch and a bank surmounted by a timber palisade or, rarely, a stone wall. Occasionally a more lightly defended embanked enclosure, the bailey, adjoined the ringwork. Ringworks acted as strongholds for military operations and in some cases as defended aristocratic or manorial settlements. They are rare nationally with only 200 recorded examples and less than 60 with baileys. As such, and as one of a limited number and very restricted range of Anglo-Saxon and Norman fortifications, ringworks are of particular significance to our understanding of the period.

The Bury ringwork, although disturbed, remains a good example of its class. The central area remains intact and will contain archaeological deposits relating to the occupation of the site. Environmental evidence pertaining to the immediate landscape in which the site was constructed will also survive, sealed beneath the surrounding bank and in the buried ditch fills. The proximity of the site to the nearby Lavendon Castle, of which it may be the precursor, adds to the significance of the site and contributes to a fuller understanding of early medieval settlement in the area.

Details

The monument includes a small ringwork situated on a gentle west facing valley slope in a field called The Bury. The earthwork remains comprise a circular enclosure with an overall diameter of 40m formed by a bank up to 10m wide at base and averaging 1m high. The central area of the enclosure appears slightly hollowed. The bank is most pronounced around the southern part of the site but is less well defined elsewhere. There is now no visible trace of a surrounding ditch though this will survive as a buried feature having become infilled over the years. To the north of the enclosure is a series of earthworks representing a portion of a once more extensive area of ridge and furrow cultivation. This is separated from the enclosure by a well defined plough headland some 8m wide and up to 1m high. All boundary features and structures are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath them is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

19088

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Card no 1293,
Field visit record, Mynard, D C,

End of official list entry

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