Scrubbed Oak enclosure and linear boundary earthwork

Reasons for Designation

Enclosures provide evidence of land use, agricultural practices and habitation from the prehistoric period onward. They were constructed as stock pens, as protected areas for crop growing or for settlement and their size and function may vary considerably depending on their particular function. Their variation in form, longevity and their relationship to other monument classes, including field systems and linear boundary earthworks, provide information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practices throughout the period of their use. Enclosures are central to understanding the development of the rural landscape and as such well preserved examples are considered worthy of protection. The earthwork enclosure known as Scrubbed Oak survives well and will contain archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed. Although many linear boundaries can be demonstrated as dating to the later prehistoric period (the Middle Bronze Age and Iron Age), the example associated with the Scrubbed Oak enclosure appears to be of considerably later date. As such only a short and well preserved section which demonstrates a clear physical relationship with the enclosure has been included within the scheduling.

Details

The monument includes an earthwork enclosure known as Scrubbed Oak, and a length of linear boundary earthwork situated on a slight south facing slope. It is one of several surviving enclosures located within Great Ridge, an extensive area of woodland which occupies a clay outcrop on the undulating south Wiltshire chalklands. The enclosure is rectangular in plan with rounded corners and defines an area of 0.5ha. It is formed by a bank which varies in width from less than 3m to 4m wide and is surrounded by a ditch up to 3m wide and a maximum of 0.6m deep below the crest of the bank. It is 69m from north to south and 78m from east to west. A linear boundary earthwork extends from the south eastern corner of the enclosure and continues westwards beyond the south western corner and can be traced for a considerable distance. The linear earthwork is formed by a ditch either side of which is a bank and has an overall width of 8m. A 20m section is included in the scheduling. Its relationship with the enclosure suggests that it is of a later date and possibly comparatively recent date. Although it can be traced as a slight feature for a considerable distance westwards, only a well preserved 20m section is included in the scheduling.

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:

26851

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.