Monument record 691/0/2 - Possible medieval/post-medieval fishpond or moated site, south of the River Avon

Earthworks of a sub-square feature that appear to comprise a ditch and internal bank. Part of the north-western arm and all of the north-eastern arm are not visible and have possibly been eroded by the river. It is possible that the earthworks are a silted up meander/oxbow of the river, but they appear too regular. Possibly a small moated site, used as a fishpond or garden. The internal island measures c12m x 20m. The remains of Sulby Abbey lie only 400m to the east. Possibly associated with the dam located c50m to the east.

{1} Small squarish feature at 465224 280354. No sign on historic mapping. It looks too regular to be a meander or oxbow. Possibly a pond. Seems too small to be a moated enclosure.

{3} Geophysical survey undertaken in 2024 detected parts of the sub-square earthwork. However, it is thought that geophysical picked up a stream channel rather than the ditch of the earthwork. This is due to the orientation and shape of the magnetic anomaly being slightly different to the anomaly depicted in the LiDAR data.

<1> Northamptonshire HER, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Liz Mordue email; 07/08/2024 (Oral Report). SNN115011.

<2> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<3> Sean Emery, 2024, Archaeological geophysical survey alongside the River Avon, Welford, Northamptonshire, October 2024 (Report). SNN116657.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:37PM