Monument record 0632600000 - 250m NW of Cranley Oak

Summary

Palaeochannel, ring ditch and ditched enclosures of unknown date seen as cropmarks on aerial photograph.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Planning Notification Area: Small cropmark complex of ring ditch and ditched enclosures

Map

Type and Period (5)

  • DITCHED ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)
  • RING DITCH? (Unknown date)
  • PALAEOCHANNEL (Unknown date)
  • SUBRECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)
  • SQUARE ENCLOSURE? (Unknown date)

Description

Cropmarks of palaeochannel, ring ditch (?) and sub-square ditched enclosure with faint traces of possible sub-rectangular enclosure adjacent to first enclosure (B1).

Subrectangular enclosures late prehistoric date and a sinuous trackway of uncertain date are visible on historic aerial photographs as cropmarks and were mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located on the course of a purported Roman Road, on the boundary between Wicken and Leckhampstead, and centred at SP 74504 37246. The enclosures are in a linear alignment; the northernmost is detached from the rest of the group, it is sub circular and 17x23m with a linear feature on the northern side from another possible enclosure or a boundary that is not visible in adjoining fields. The subrectangular enclosure to the south is 33x31m, and has the widest cropmarks for the ditches. It is adjacent to but does not appear to be attached to the enclosures immediately to the south. There are two joining enclosures immediately to the south, the northernmost is 37x37m in size and is fully visible as a cropmark, with a linear feature, extending from the northern corner forming part of a possible boundary of another adjoining enclosure. The southernmost enclosure is smaller than the enclosures immediately to the north and only three sides are visible as cropmarks. The course of a sinuous former trackway or palaeochannel is visible as earthworks in the 1940s and later as cropmarks is 170m to the west. Underlying geology is superficial deposits of Head and Till/Diamicton overlying bedrock of Great Oolite Group limestone. Modern land use is arable and cropmarks on google earth show only field drains which may demonstrate the enclosures have been ploughed away but this cannot be stated without further investigation. (2-3)

Sources (3)

  • <1>SBC19912 Aerial Photograph: Glen Foard, Northants County Council. 1990. 11929/16 - Cranley Oak. SP74503720.
  • <2>SBC26377 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1792 RS 4177 11-Oct-1946.
  • <3>SBC26376 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 1990. NHC 11929_016 11-Jul-1990.

Location

Grid reference SP 7450 3720 (point)
Civil Parish LECKHAMPSTEAD, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Event - Survey: Aerial investigation and mapping project (Ref: 7768) (EBC18304)

Record last edited

Sep 4 2023 2:30PM

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