Monument record 4557 - Linear Earthworks or Cropmarks

Earthworks or cropmarks indicative of ditches (and possibly banks) are visible of aerial photographs dating from the 1940s, 1970,s and 2000 (1,2&3). These features correspond with field boundaries visible on the Ordnance Survey first edition map (4). This field system is probably the product of the enclosure of the medieval open fields of Acton Bridge. Although field boundaries of this type are potentially multi-period, the early abandonment of this form of field system is common in Cheshire. Therefore these features may date from the medieval period (5).

<1> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

<1> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

<2> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, Run 25 No 1910 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

<3> The GeoInformation Group, 1999-2001, Millennium Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH4609.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<5> Edwards R, 2008, The Cheshire Historic Landscape Characterisation (Report). SCH4463.