Monument record 5575 - Possible Iron Age Settlement, Shortgrove Wood

An earthwork of a circular ditched enclosure c42m in diameter. Appears to pre-date the wood. It has been variously interpreted as part of an Iron Age settlement or a medieval moated lodge associated with Whistley Wood immediately to the east.

{1} Circular ditched enclosure approx 42m internal diameter & surrounding ditch 5-6m wide x 0.75m deep; low internal bank visible in places.

{2} A low bank up to 5m in width and c.0.25m in height was visible around the inner east and north east part of the ditch. Another low bank of similar width was visible along the outer north west and west sides of the enclosure, a narrow depression acoss the bank possibly marking an access point. No other internal features were seen, nor any further external features.
The enclosure would seem to pre-date the woodland: ditches whose character suggests they are woodland relates cut across the enclosure. The general form of the enclosure could be consistent with pre-woodland activity, possibly as early as Iron Age.

{5} A moated enclosure has straight south and east sides and the others curved. The ditch is flat bottomed 8m wide. The enclosure is 45m in ‘diameter’, excluding the ditches and has a slight inner rampart. The moat may have been a lodge site; it lies close to the western boundary of Whistley Wood.

{6} D_Hall_Survey_Site. [HER note 19/06/2014: uncertain whether surveyed whilst doing Whistley Wood.]

<1> Cadman, G.E., 1990, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50204.

<2> Cadman G.E., 1989, Report on Archaeological Reconnaisance of Shortgrove Wood, Northants November 1989, (checked) (Report). SNN1402.

<3> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, 24/123 (checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<4> Hall D.N., 2000, Forest Enterprise Woodlands In Northamptonshire: Whittlewood Forest And Other Woods, Archaeological Survey, Part 3, (unchecked) (Report). SNN100485.

<5> Hall D.N., 2000, The Historic Landscape of Whittlewood Forest: Historic Landscape Mapping, (unchecked) (Report). SNN102634.

<6> Hall D.N., 2001, Northamptonshire Woodland Survey Archive, (part checked) (Digital archive). SNN109590.

Record last edited

Oct 14 2024 3:06PM