Monument record 112/1/10 - Cropmarks, south-west of Lyveden New Bield

Cropmarks to the south of Lyveden New Bield, seen on aerial photographs taken in 2000 and 2004 are probably the result of visitor management. Although the cropmarks seen in these two years are superficially the same - describing an irregular and incomplete U-shaped enclosure - on closer examination they can be seen to follow a different course. It is likely that they were either formed by the means of directing visitors around the site, the action of the visitors themselves following these routes, or a combination of both.

{1} A possible Medieval or Post Medieval garden enclosure is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs taken in 2004. The site comprises a single sinuous ditch which forms an irregular U-shaped enclosure that measures circa 125m wide and 106m long and is orientated roughly south-west / north-east.

The enclosure is situated immediately to the south-west of Lyvedon New Bield (SP 98 NE 4 / UID: 347456) but may have continued north-west. The square garden platform associated with the New Bield may overlay the enclosure, which suggests that it is an earlier feature of the landscape. The alignment of the New Bield is also slightly different, which again indicates separate phases of construction.

{2} After the consultation of additional aerial photographs it is considered unlikely that the cropmark, described by the previous authority is of a Medieval or Post Medieval garden enclosure. Aerial photographs taken in 2000 show what superficially appears to be the same feature, but which on closer examination can be seen to follow a different course. It is likely that these two cropmarks are the result of visitor management and were either formed by the means of directing visitors around the site, the action of the visitors themselves following these routes, or a combination of both.

<1> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NMR SP 9885/59 (NMR 23752/11) 26-OCT-2004 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<2> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NMR SP 9885/21 (18882/07) 4-OCT-2000 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 8:36PM