Monument record WRW 019 - Sub-rectangular enclosure possibly relating to post medieval Osier Beds

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Summary

A sub rectangular enclosure with an exterior ditch (which has since been levelled), of a probable post medieval date, can be seen as an earthwork on aerial photographs and is mapped on the 1882 & 1884 historic maps. The possible enclosure is possibly linked to a water course or drain flowing South to the River Lark. Small regular banks and ditches can be seen within the enclosure on the aerial photographs and it is possible that this feature may relate to a post medieval Osier Bed. The area has previously been referred to as Oiser Cover on historic maps which may support this interpretation. The possible enclosure has previously been interpreted to be a moat however this is unlikely. The possible Osier Bed is in close proximity to earthworks possibly relating to Wordwell Medieval settlement remains (WRW 003).

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 8240 7265 (45m by 42m) Centred on
Map sheet TL87SW
Civil Parish WORDWELL, ST EDMUNDSBURY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (8)

Full Description

Water-filled sub-rectangular moat shown on OS 1882 & 1884 maps, circa 40m x 25m, linked to water course flowing S to River Lark. Isolated, circa 500m from Wordwell Hall and 400m from road. Now in NW corner of arable field, originally within larger field (S1).
1800: map names site as 'Osier Cover' (S2).

October 2019. Breckland National Mapping Programme.
A sub rectangular enclosure with an exterior ditch, of a probable post medieval date, can be seen as an earthwork (which has since been levelled) on aerial photographs (S3-S4). The feature consists of a banked enclosure with an exterior ditch and small regular banks and ditches within the interior of the enclosure. The enclosure is also possibly linked to a drain or watercourse in close proximity which has not been mapped as it falls outside of the scope of this survey and is mapped well on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map (S6). It is possible that this feature may relate to a post medieval Osier Bed and the area has previously been referred to as Oiser Cover on historic maps (See above (S2)) which may support this interpretation. The possible enclosure has previously been interpreted to be a moat (See above) however this is unlikely. The feature is seen as an earthwork in the 1940s and has been levelled by the late 1950s (S5). The possible Osier Bed is in close proximity to earthworks possibly relating to Wordwell Medieval settlement remains (WRW 003).
J.Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 28th October 2019.

Sources/Archives (6)

  • <S1> (No record type): OS, 6 and 25 inch maps, 1882 & 1884.
  • <S2> Cartographic materials: Map. A survey and rough plan of Wordwell Estate in the County of Suffolk 1800, SRO (Bury) M593/1.
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/106G/LA/129 FS 2119-2120 14-FEB-1945 (HEA Original Print.
  • <S4> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/60 V 5101-5102 05-FEB-1946 (HEA Original Print).
  • <S5> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/58/2677 F21 0248-0249 21-JAN-1959 (HEA Original Print).
  • <S6> Map: Ordnance Survey. Ordnance Survey Map. Frist Edition Ordnance Survey map.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Mar 10 2020 12:41PM

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