Monument record 1852/1 - Earthworks at Lane End Farm

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 56 NW 11 (Index). SCH2487.

Ring motte: site inspected by W F Grimes (G Webster inf M Leach 1949). [BRS 16/03/1962]

A mound, with truces of a possible surrounding ditch, has been surveyed at 1:2500 at SJ 50576904. [JHW 30/03/1962]

The earthwork at Ashton is possible a ring-motte , but it is much obscured on the west and north by buildings etc. The site was trenched by the farmer in 1950 when the base of a rough stone wall to the east was found. Fragments of coal were found behind it, and Mr Webster (the curator, Grosvenor Museum) suggested it was probably a boundary wall of late date.
Letter (FH Thompson Curator Grosvenor Museum, Chester 17/04/1962). [MH 25/04/1962]

Field report and survey of 1962 checked and correct. [JHW 26/06/1964]

A probable small motte, ,situated upon a low ridge south of Ashton. The earthwork , 30.0m in diameter at the base, 1.2m high, with a flat top, 14. 0m across, has been reduced and spread by ploughing and has been cut into on the north by farmyard walls. There are no traces of a periphery bank and Webster's and Thompson's ring-motte classification cannot be substantiated. A scarp, 0.6 to 0.8m high, 20.0m south of the mound, may possibly represent the outer lip of a ditch but is more likely to be natural. Published 1:2500 survey, 1970, correct. [ASP 06/09/1976]

On a low ridge on the Sedge of Ashton village, are the very mutilated remains of an alleged motte. The site has been flattened by farm access from the north-east, and by activity around farm buildings on the west. The whole has been puddled by cattle Tread. Because of this activity, and due to the proximity of the road, the form and overall dimensions are difficult to establish, but viewed from the south-west it appears as a pronounced swelling in the corner of the field. To the east a spread scarp falling to the north has been interpreted as a ditch, but the feature sits uncomfortably with the "motte", and seems too angular to be a convincing ditch. In the absence of historical reference, the interpretation of the feature as a motte is unwise, and its function, and antiquity must be left open to question. [WRWN 12/02/1987]

Includes annotated plan surveyed 30/03/1962 by JH White.

<2> English Heritage, 1990-1993, Monuments Protection Programme Site Visit Form, Robinson KD, 18/12/1990 (Unpublished Document). SCH5222.

The site was visited 19/09/1990. The monument proved extremely difficult to locate with
confidence. Field observations at the site of the monument shown on the Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 and 1:2500 maps revealed the area of the monument to have been recently ploughed and planted with cereal crop, potato and cabbage, Earthworks reported in Site and Monuments Record to be 30m in diameter at base and 1.2m high with a flat top 14m in diameter were not observed. In the rear garden of Lane End Farm , however, is a flat-topped mound cut into on its northern and western sides by the farmhouse and by a wall. This mound may be the feature described or, alternatively, it may be part of landscaping associated with large scale modernisation of farmhouse and conversion of yard and outbuildings into offices, doctor's surgery, car park and lawned garden. Further investigation is required to prove whether this feature is of archaeological importance. In view of the doubt surrounding this site it has been decided not to proceed with scheduling at this stage.

<3> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, Composite DTM 1m 2022 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

LIDAR survey data processed using a Visualization for Archaeological Topography tailored to highlight slight features, depicts the northern half of the mound surviving. To its south-east is possible slight curving bank c.12m wide which curves from a north-south alignment adjacent to the mound to an east-west alignment adjacent to the road.