Two Highworth circles 600m south east of North Leaze Farm

Reasons for Designation

Highworth circles are a type of earthwork enclosure found mostly in north east Wiltshire, with a few outliers north of the Thames in Oxfordshire. Although they are known as `circles' their form varies from circular or sub-circular, with diameters of between 40m and 90m, to sub-rectangular. All have a wide flat bottomed ditch with an external bank. Despite limited fieldwork and excavation their date remains uncertain. Although sharing characteristics with henge monuments of Neolithic date, Highworth circles, located almost entirely within the Hundred of Highworth, may be suggested of being of medieval date possibly constructed for stock management. Over 40 examples have been recorded, many of them reduced by modern cultivation. All examples exhibiting significant survival of archaeological remains will normally be identified as nationally important. The two Highworth circles 600m south east of North Leaze Farm survive comparatively well and will contain archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.

Details

The monument includes two earthwork enclosures, known as Highworth circles, located 600m south east of North Leaze Farm. The site lies on a clay plain with Crouch Hill to the south west and the River Thames to the north. The adjoining enclosures, which are aligned north to south are each formed by an approximately circular ditch surrounded by a bank. The northernmost enclosure has an overall diameter of approximately 75m, and consists of a ditch 4.5m wide and 0.25m deep, surrounded by an outer bank 4.5m wide and 0.25m high. The southernmost enclosure has an overall diameter of approximately 79m and consists of a ditch 3m wide and 0.25m deep surrounded by an outer bank 4.25m wide and 0.2m high. All fence posts are excluded from the schedulings, although the ground beneath these features is included.

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.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

28972

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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