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 Cheshire Plain sub-Province of the Northern and
Western Province, a gently rolling plain of red marl covered by ice-carried
clays, sands and gravels. It is diversified by occasional sandstone
escarpments, notably the Central Cheshire Ridge east of the Dee valley. It has
lower densities of nucleated settlements than surrounding areas, and high
concentrations of dispersed farmsteads and small hamlets. In the Wirral and
the lower Dee and Weaver valleys, the settlement mix is different, with low
and medium densities of dispersed farmsteads intermixed with more frequent
villages. Domesday Book records a thin scatter of settlement in the Wirral,
the Dee lowlands and the central and southern plain in 1086, with much
woodland.
Details
The monument includes a hamlet with associated earthwork remains of ridge and
furrow cultivation immediately east of Overton Hall. The settlement was listed
in the Domesday Book and lies next to the 12th or 13th century moated site of
Overton Hall.
The earthworks indicate platforms for five houses or farm buildings (tofts),
two hollow ways and extensive ridge and furrow cultivation remains. In
addition there is evidence for four more buildings which were recorded on the
1840 tithe award maps. The site was therefore in occupation up to the
mid-19th century.
The two hollow ways run into the site from the north and converge in the
centre to form a single hollow way which runs south to the brook on the
southern side of the site. Here there was probably a bridge or ford since the
track can be traced up to a gap in the bank which defines the northern side of
a green lane which runs along the southern edge of the area. At the point
where the hollow ways converge there are the tofts for two or three houses. On
the hillslope 150m to the north east, above this point, are further tofts and
small enclosures (crofts). In the triangle formed by the hollow ways, aerial
photography has revealed ridge and furrow cultivation, and there is further
evidence of this form of agriculture to the west and north of this triangle.
Two distinct plough headlands form well-defined ridges running north-south in
the northern part of the area of protection and these have been cut by the
concrete road which runs through the site to the hall. In the field to the
north of this road there are the remains of ridge and furrow which are not
sufficiently well-preserved to be included in the scheduling.
On the eastern fringe of the site there are further remains which are not
well-defined and are probably old field boundaries and a house platform which
appears on the 1840 tithe award maps. In the south western corner of the site
is a modern pipe bridge, covered by earth to allow cattle to cross to the
grazing in the area to the south of the hall. This area has been shown to
retain remains of ridge and furrow.
Post and wire fences along the eastern and northern edges of the monument and
the modern pipe bridge are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground
beneath is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
30392
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
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
