| Summary : Extensive settlement and field system earthworks, probably incorporating both Iron Age and Roman and Medieval elements have been recorded surrounding the village of Christon. The complex comprises building platforms, crofts and enclosures spoil heaps, a pound, blocks of extant ridge and furrow, plough headlands and an extensive field system defined by lynchets and field boundaries. Many of lynchets and field boundaries have been given an Iron Age or Roman date on the basis of their appearance, and Iron Age to Roman material, mainly surface finds, and been recovered from several locations. Finds of 12th to 14th century pottery within the enclosures near the centre of the complex suggest a Medieval origin for at least some of the earthworks. A well preserved group of possible tenth century lynchets has been recorded separately (see ST 35 NE 51). |
More information : [Area: ST 3750 5760] Celtic fields, lynchets and
building platforms indicated by Crawford and Tratman. Hunt (3)
refers to Celtic fields above Barleycombe. (1-3)
An extensive field system of IA/RB type is centred at
ST 37505750. It is best preserved in the N.W. and the southern
extremities where there are lynchets up to 1.7m high. The system
is overlaid by later strip lynchets and apparently medieval
fields. At ST 37225785 a platform has been constructed by
cutting into a S. slope. On the E. side of the platform there
appear to be the sites of two buildings. The area is under
pasture and it is uncertain whether the site is of medieval or
earlier origin.
Surveyed at 1/2500. (4)
Lynchets and earthworks on the hillside at Christon have been
recorded, see plan (5).
Dating evidence from pottery found on the site indicates major
occupation contemporary with the church (12th century see
ST 35 NE 32), giving a shrunken rather than deserted village.
Deserted settlement remains, at ST 378576 (6), have also been
surveyed (and shown in part by Clarke). They lie on one side of a
holloway, rising up the south-facing slope, on its east and
north sides. The lower part to the east of the track consists of
four closes terraced into the hillside, with little trace of
house platforms.
The upper part, north of the track, is more irregular,
especially in the eastern portion which is cut by small quarries.
There are about five closes in this section, many with slight
remains of one or more buildings. The large lynchets in the north
of this area are possibly 'Celtic' field banks re-used as close
boundaries. Much 12th-14th century pottery has been found
scattered over the settlement remains.
A well defined semi-rectangular earthwork (at ST 37225785, see
also authority 4), about 120ft by 100ft, was used at some
unspecified period as a pound. It has also been claimed to be a
deserted medieval farm, but the only surface finds are six sherds
of Romano-British coarse ware from the L-shaped bank to the east
(ST 37285786). (6-7)
A few feet to the west of the L-shaped bank (mentioned by source 7) is a subrectangular scooped enclosure which may be associated with it.
Medieval remains are visible in the form of contour strip lynchets
which have so far escaped destruction. The hollow-way from the church
was probably Christon's main medieval street, and building platforms
are visible. Pottery dates from the 12th and 13th century - the absence of any later pottery suggests depopulation due to the Black Death or a similar catastrophe. (8)
Romano-British pottery was found in the garden of Manor
House Farm, Loxton 1981. (9)
A rapid examination of air photography (10a) shows the earthworks. (10)
An extensive field system and settlement which probably incorporates both Iron Age, Roman and Medieval elements is centred on ST 378575, and extends over an area which covers 1514 metres east-west and 1188 metres north-south. The site comprises circa 8 crofts, a stock enclosure or pound, circa 2 building platforms, an extractive pit, 6 blocks of extant ridge and furrow with an associated plough headland and an extensive field system or dozens of fields which are defined by lynchets and banks. Four possible crofts are visible at the northern edge of the settlement. These are defined by sections of NNW-SSE oriented banks overlying the lynchets of an Iron Age or Roman field system, centred on ST 3787 5776. The remaining four crofts are located at the southern edge of the settlement, and are cut by the modern road. The stock enclosure or pound is centred on ST 3784 5770, is sub oval in shape and measures 107 metres long and 50 metres wide.
Some of the central area of the settlement seems to be disturbed by quarrying, and there are a number of earthworks which could be spoil heaps, lynchets or croft banks. The series of broad scarps to the south of the settlement are also likely to be Iron Age or Roman in date, whereas everything else appears to be Medieval. Some of the easternmost lynchets have been levelled by the construction of the M5 in 1970. The ridge and furrow is levelled on aerial photographs taken in 1989, 1960 or the Lidar flown in 2006. A well preserved group of possibly tenth century lynchets which form part of this field system have been recorded separately (see ST 35 NE 51 / UID: 192479). The platform mentioned above in source 4 has now been recorded separately, along with its associated field system. The well defined semi-rectangular earthwork referred to in source 6-7 has also been recorded separately (see ST 35 NE 146 / UID: 1493692) (11-14).
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