Reasons for Designation
Medieval rural settlements in England were marked by great regional diversity
in form, size and type, and the protection of their archaeological remains
needs to take these differences into account. To do this, England has been
divided into three broad Provinces on the basis of each area's distinctive
mixture of nucleated and dispersed settlements. These can be further divided
into sub-Provinces and local regions, possessing characteristics which have
gradually evolved during the past 1500 years or more.
This monument lies in the extensive south-west Peninsula sub-Province of the
Northern and Western Province, an area climatically, culturally and physically
distinct from the rest of England. It includes varying terrains, from the
granite uplands, through rolling dissected plateaux to fertile clay lowlands
in the east. Nucleated settlements are present, notably in the Devon
Lowlands and throughout the South Hams. Many of these originated as small
towns, whilst a high proportion may be late foundations. Excluding only the
moorland masses, the sub-Province is characterised by medium and high
densities of dispersed settlements; indeed, some of the former industrial
areas had densities as high as any in the country.
The Axe Valley local region is characterised by having comparatively few
village settlements and high densities of scattered farmsteads. Intricate
terrains are associated with hedged enclosures, woodland patches and a complex
network and roads and paths, many of which are cut deeply into the land as
hollow ways.
Details
The monument includes a medieval settlement located to the east of Knight
House Farm, Cudworth. The site is linear in plan and is located in Higher
Broad Field on a gentle east and south facing slope adjacent to the west bank
of Wall Brook. The settlement includes earthworks indicating the site of
village features such as houses, small fields or paddocks, a network of
streets and tracks and an area of medieval cultivation.
A hollow way up to 6m wide, indicating a village street, crosses the site from
east to west along which are located several house platforms. Evidence of
medieval agriculture survives at the centre of the settlement where traces of
ridge and furrow are visible within a rectangular field, defined by a shallow
ditch to the north and south. Two more house platforms, and possibly a third,
are located to the north of the ridge and furrow and south of the present
road. These are connected to the village street by two tracks which pass
either side of the ridge and furrow. The track to the east runs parallel with
Wall Brook between the field of ridge and furrow and the river's flood plain.
Several small fields or paddocks defined by low banks, are located to the east
and north of the area of cultivation.
Cudworth is mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086, where it is recorded
that the site was established before 1066. The settlement is also mentioned in
14th century documents and it lies just to the east of a medieval moated site
and the Church of St Michael.
All fence posts and telegraph poles are excluded from the scheduling, although
the ground beneath them is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
32163
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
