Monument record 3253/0/1 - Medieval Park Pale

Medieval linear earthwork, possibly associated with Higham Hall park pale.

{1} In the 1950s, M.W. Beresford noted that on the SE side of former Higham Park, the medieval park pale is visible as a long linear bank 30ft across and 4ft high with internal and external ditches curves running along the north side of West Wood. The park pale then turns NE. This park boundary also marks the county boundary.

{3} A linear bank at (SP998632), associated with Higham Hall park pale.

{5-7} A short section of a possible former medieval park pale is visible as shallow earthworks on remote sensing data and was mapped as part of the Bedford Borough NMP project. Located in a field adjacent the east side of West Wood and centred at SP 99672 63035, a ditch about 1.7 metres wide and 138 metres long is flanked on both sides by sections of earthwork bank. These features are part of a former field boundary on historic aerial photographs taken in 1950 but which had been cleared by 1968. No evidence of the features described at {1} could be identified.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.69-70/Site 9 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> 1975, Northamptonshire Archaeology, p.226-7 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN58471.

<3> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1974, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (4), p.26 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN17341.

<4> BERESFORD M.W., 1971, History On The Ground, p.217-18 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN60521.

<5> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, RAF/541/483 RP 3220 07-APR-1950 (Photographs). SNN104890.

<6> Bedford Borough Council HER, 1968, Georeferenced composite layer of vertical aerial photographs taken in 1968. Held by Bedford Borough Council HER (Archive). SNN112712.

<7> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, LIDAR SP 9963 Environment Agency 1m DTM 04-JUL-2006–03-AUG-2017 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<8> Bedford Borough Council HER, Undated, Bedford Borough NMP (Archive). SNN113023.

Record last edited

Mar 19 2024 2:38PM