Medieval settlement 400m south west of Crew's 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 settlement 250m south west of Crew's Farm is well preserved and is a good example of its type. It will contain archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the settlement while the ridge and furrow will provide insights into the agricultural practice of its inhabitants.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a medieval settlement and traces of contemporary farming, located 250m south west of Crew's Farm. The monument is located in a wide clay vale 500m south of a steep sided clay ridge on which the village of Brinkworth is built. The medieval settlement comprises a group of regular house platforms situated on a slight rise in ground level. They are up to 1m high and cover an area measuring 100m north-south and 80m east-west, surrounded by a ditch up to 1m deep and 2m wide. A substantial hollow way up to 1.5m deep flanks the northern edge of the settlement and runs east west for a length of 200m to the north of the platforms. Traces of medieval cultivation in the form of ridge and furrow is visible in the fields to the east and west of the settlement. The best preserved areas of the ridge and furrow have been included in the scheduling. All cattle troughs and fence posts are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included.

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:

28986

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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