Medieval rural settlement 240m south of Lower Woodshaw Farm

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 last 1500 years or more. The Upper Avon and Thames local region has mixed characteristics, with elements of both `village' and `woodland' landscapes. It is distinguished by substantial densities of villages and hamlets associated with moderate numbers of scattered farmsteads, giving a rather dense overall pattern, but the region still carried woodland in 1086, and the Braden and Chippenham Forests reflect this.

The medieval rural settlement 240m south of Lower Woodshaw Farm is well preserved and is good example of its class within this sub-Province. It will contain archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and the landscape in which it was constructed.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a medieval settlement located 240m south of Lower Woodshaw Farm on low lying clay pasture land to the south east of Wootton Bassett. A series of house platforms of irregular shape are grouped around the north and west sides of a down cut feature interpreted as a pond. The largest platform adjacent to the pond is 1.5m high and is surrounded by a shallow ditch 0.1m deep. The monument is abutted by ridge and furrow, which rises to a low height only and has not therefore been included in the scheduling. Earthworks to the north and west represent field boundaries and drainage features of uncertain date and are likewise not 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:

28999

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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