Monument record 8838/1 - Possible prehistoric ring ditch

A possible late Neolithic and/or Bronze Age round barrow or ceremonial monument is recorded as cropmarks on EH Reconnaissance aerial photographs taken in July 2011. It is visible as a ring ditch measuring about 25 metres across. It appears on Google Earth aerial photographs taken in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009. Aerial photographs taken in 1991 and 1996 suggest the ring ditch may be a modern horse training ring.

{1-7} A possible late Neolithic and/or Bronze Age round barrow or ceremonial monument is recorded as cropmarks on EH Reconnaissance aerial photographs taken in July 2011. It is visible as a ring ditch measuring about 25 metres across and is centred at SP 9762 6338.
It appears on Google Earth aerial photographs taken in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009.
A large Bronze Age axe was found in the field to the north west in the early 19th century - see Monument Record 347101.

{8-10} A ring ditch of uncertain date and function is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs and was mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. Located in a small paddock at the bottom of a slope immediately adjacent a smallholding about 300 metres west of Bencroft Grange and centred at SP 97613 63380, the ring ditch is slightly squashed, giving it a very slightly subcircular appearance is about 2.6 metres wide and encloses an area about 22 metres WNW-ESE and 21 metres SSW-NNE in diameter. Aerial photographs taken in 1991 and 1996 suggest the ring ditch appearing to be a clear soilmark rather a cropmark, with an eroded or trampled interior that suggests that this feature may be a modern horse training ring, also known as a ménage. The cropmark feature does not appear in any of the available assessed aerial photographs taken prior to 1986.

<1> Oblique Aerial Photograph, NMR 27156_007-008 11-JULY-2011 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN111738.

<2> Vertical Aerial Photograph, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 02-JUN-2009 ACCESSED 14-NOV-2014 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<3> Vertical Aerial Photograph, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 24-MAY-2009 ACCESSED 14-NOV-2014 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<4> Vertical Aerial Photograph, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 01-JAN-2006 ACCESSED 14-NOV-2014 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<5> Vertical Aerial Photograph, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 26-JUN-2005 ACCESSED 14-NOV-2014 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<6> Vertical Aerial Photograph, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 01-JAN-2003 ACCESSED 14-NOV-2014 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<7> Vertical Aerial Photograph, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 01-JAN-2002 ACCESSED 14-NOV-2014 (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

<8> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1986, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in 1986. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN115229.

<9> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1991, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in 1991. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN111744.

<10> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1996, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in 1996. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN111739.

<11> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP (Archive). SNN113023.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2025 8:35PM