| Summary : A dam, probably medieval, which may have retained a pond (now dry) within the precinct of Haughmond Abbey. The creation of this dam marked a significant change of land use with the abandonment of cultivation of the area north of the abbey precinct, and the establishment of a large pond across the west side of the field. The dam was constructed across the shallow valley which marks the natural course of the north stream and is strong enough to have held a substantial body of water against the gently rising valley to the east. The dam survives a flat-topped bank 120 metres in length, up to 2 metres high, and approximately 10 metres in width. The south end is rounded, but the north has been cut back and is now more square-ended than shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1969. A large V-shape cutting was made, presumably to drain the dam, and the stream now flows out across the dam, enlarging the original cut.Water may have been drawn off the pond via a trough at the top of the dam in order to power an overshot watermill on the west side, and a slight building platform exists on the west side of the dam. However, no documentary evidence exists to confirm the pond was a millpond. The earthwork remains of a second smaller pond lie to the east. |
More information : (SJ 5400 1543) Medieval dam.
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) |