Monument Number 1384645 |
| Hob Uid: 1384645 | |
Location :
Shropshire
Uffington
|
| Grid Ref : SJ5410015400 |
| Summary : A medieval field system surviving as earthworks to the north of the precinct of Haughmond Abbey. The immediate surroundings of the abbey were within its demesne and therefore probably farmed directly from the home farm. The demesne extended well beyond the limits of the area surveyed by English Heritage in 2002, and was largely developed for agriculture by asserting sections of the royal forest. Around the abbey, the only significant block of surviving medieval earthworks is immediately outside the north-west side of the precinct, extending northwards to the hedgeline. The remains here were previously thought to relate to the post-Dissolution garden, but are actually largely medieval in origin, and divide into two broad phases. The first phase is represented by a possibly prolonged period of ploughing succeeded by the damming of the north stream to form an extensive pond across the west side of the field. A second more prominent dam immediately to the east is probably 18th century in date.The phase one ploughing can be seen in the parallel east-west ridges up to 10 metres wide. They are likely to post-date the establishment of the abbey precinct, as they occur immediately outside the precinct. In the second phase the ground was taken out of cultivation and divided from the precinct by a parallel boundary ditch. The ditch was presumably to separate the area of the ponds and the monastic precinct. |
More information : (SJ 541 154) Medieval field system.
Between January and December 2002, English Heritage carried out a detailed analytical field survey of the environs of the standing buildings of Haughmond Abbey (Event record 1384572) (1). The survey, which covered an area of 19ha, was intended to inform the site's management and to put into context the findings of the small-scale excavations carried out between 1975 and 1979.
For further details, see Archaeological Investigation Report AI/10/2003, which includes photographs, plans at various scales, interpretative diagrams and a full textual description and analysis. (1)
Scheduled. (2) |