Monument record 7582 - Rectangular enclosure in Weston

<1> Phil Sidebottom Archaeological Consultancy, 2013, An Archaeological Desk based asssessment at Gorstyhill Golf Course, Weston, Cheshire. March 2013, p.13 (Client Report). SCH7758.

Although the pattern of enclosure changed between 1899 and 1909, one of the earlier enclosures can still be identified, even though it is no longer shown on 20th century Ordnance Survey maps. It appears on the 1947 aerial image as a rectangular enclosure, coterminous with field 437 on the tithe map of 1846 (see 2). It had raised boundary banks to the east, west and south which were probably created by successive ploughing in and around it. Contained within the enclosure were straight, wide, plough-marks.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 421/2 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

Plot no.437 is named "New Field".

<3> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

The southern and south-eastern boundaries of the enclosure are clear and distinct earthworks. The east to west aligned ridge and furrow is visible as earthworks up to the modern field boundary (see 5). The western enclosure boundary is only faintly visible.

<3> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

The southern and south-eastern boundaries of the enclosure are clear and distinct earthworks. The east to west aligned ridge and furrow is visible as earthworks up to the modern field boundary (see 5). The western enclosure boundary is only faintly visible.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7452, 1876 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The earthwork visible on (3) is clearly depicted as field no.346. There is a sand pit at the northern end of the enclosure. The western boundary is marked by two infield trees, but is preserved in the field numbering.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7451, 1909 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

There has been a substantial re-organisation of the field system. The hedges on the southern and south-eastern enclosure boundaries have been removed. The enclosure is bisected by a new straight field boundary running from the enclosure's south-western corner to mid way along the eastern boundary.