Monument record 1984 - Field system 200m SE of Longley Cottage

A possible Iron Age or Romano British field system, extending over 12 acres across the north end of a long ridge west of Longley Farm, Kelsall, between 300 and 400ft OD. The fields are demarcated by low scarps or lynchets formed by ploughsoil slipping downhill from the upper portion of a field and accumulating against its lower boundary (1). Lynchets well marked, especially in unploughed areas (2). A system of terraces, lynchets and enclosures, located West of Longley Farm, on the northern end of a ridge. The lynchets run across the slope, between 25m & 50m apart, forming terraces 100m to 150m long. 4th & 5th lynchets from the bottom have earthwork enclosures attached to the lower edges of the terraces forming platforms which may have been smaller cultivated areas surrounding a house site. On SE side lynchets have been ploughed away. Terraces are the result of ploughing strips across the slope. Such systems can be attributed to Romano British or early medieval farming (3).

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/104+112 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 64/24-26 Bu'lock J D 1954 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), /30375 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<3> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), /30375 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ57SW5 1963 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.493 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<6> Various, Aerial photographs, 540/443 5008-9 Dec 1950 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.