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.
This monument lies in the Cotswold Scarp and Vales sub-Province of the Central
Province, a scarp and vale landscape extending south eastwards from the clays
and alluvium of the Severn Plain, over the limestones of the Cotswolds to the
Oxford Clay Vale. Villages and hamlets concentrate thickly in the Severn
Valley and the Vale of Pewsey, but are only moderately dense elsewhere. They
are most thinly scattered on the higher ridge of the north east Cotswolds, an
area where in 1851 there were low populations and frequent deserted villages.
Overall, there are very low concentrations of dispersed farmsteads, the only
exceptions being the Vale of Pewsey and the Upper Avon and Thames watershed.
Details
The monument includes the earthwork remains of a medieval settlement located
to the north east of Lower Beversbrook Farm on low lying land on the outskirts
of Calne.
The earthworks are linear in plan, 500m long with a hollow way running almost
the whole length on the eastern margin. Flanking this to the north west are a
series of long rectilinear platforms. At the north east end of the hollow way,
the earthworks broaden into a series of well defined square platforms and
enclosures. Most prominent of these is a square platform 1.5m high surrounded
by a moat 1m deep and 4m wide. Ridge and furrow abutts the earthworks to the
north and east, the best preserved areas of which are included in the
scheduling. The village is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Beversbroc
and was presented a chapel in 1298.
All fenceposts, cattle troughs and cattle feeders are excluded from the
scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
31656
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
