Monument Number 364727 |
| Hob Uid: 364727 | |
Location :
Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire
Watton-at-Stone
|
| Grid Ref : TL2828018830 |
| Summary : Two adjacent earthworks in Well and Chapel Woods, the latter possibly the site of a chapel. When seen in circa 1908, Well Wood enclosure was described as sub-circular with a well-defined bank and ditch on the East, the ditch being the more oustanding feature. The enclosure in Chapel Wood appeared to be triangular with a double bank and ditch on the North, the banks being the more outstanding. At the time, it was considered that the earthworks represented a moat. An excavation within the Chapel Wood enclosure by Datchworth Local History Group in 1955 revealed a slight raised platform, the packed flint foundations of a building oriented ENE-WSW, measuring 8.0m by 5.5m: a scatter of Mediaeval roofing tile was present. It is possible that this is the remains of a chapel. Field investigation in 1990 found the sites to be badly disturbed, and the chapel site `unintelligible'. There may be a stratigraphic relationship between the two sites. |
More information : (TL 282190) - Moat (NR) ('A')
(TL 283188) - Earthwork (NR) ('B') (1)
Two Class G earthworks (complex moat typs):
(A) In Well Wood; sub-circular with well-defined bank and ditch
on the East, the ditch being the more oustanding feature.
(B) In Chapel Wood; presumably triangular with double bank and
ditch on the North, the banks being the more outstanding; heavily
overgrown. (2)
Medieval pottery found in 'A' in 1955. Now in Stevenage Museum
(No 34). (3)
Two presumably mediaeval enclosures generally as described by
Montgomerie. 'A' is much mutilated by quarrying but an entrance
can be recognised in the SE side: no trace of a building (or a
well) could be recognised in the interior. 'B' is triangular with
an entrance in the E side, and within it a smaller sub-rectangular
enclosure. This latter comprises a simple bank and ditch with an
inturned entrance in the E side. Within it, at TL 28281883, an
excavation by Datchworth Local History Group (under the direction of
J Goldsworthy) has revealed a slight raised platform, the packed
flint foundations of a building oriented ENE-WSW, measuring
8.0m by 5.5m: a scatter of Md roofing tile is present.
The name of the wood and the orientation of the building
suggest a mediaeval chapel.
Published 1:2500 revised. (4)
TL 283191. Earthworks in Chapel Wood and Well Wood - scheduled. (5)
The site is as described - no change to published survey.
The earthworks define the extent of managed woodland. Although large,
it is possible that they are the product of medieval woodland
management, an earlier defensive enclosure. There may be a
stratigraphic relationship between the two enclosures. In form they
are unconvincing as medieval moats. The site of the chapel is largely
unintelligible. There is evidence of metal detecting, and heaps of
excavation spoil confuse the site. (6)
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