Monument record 2016/1/7 - Earthworks North-west of Shotwick Castle

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Summary

Vertical aerial photographs dating from 1947 show an area of ridge and furrow earthworks to the north-east of Shotwick Castle Farm. The presence of medieval ridge and furrow implies that parts of the medieval deer park may have been farmed. Modern sources indicate that these earthworks have been significantly reduced. Ridge and furrow is the distinctive pattern of earthworks that are created when land has been ploughed to create cultivation beds. The furrow is the ploughed line and the ridge is the bank of soil used to grow crops in. This system has operated in Britain since before the Anglo-Saxon period.

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Type and Period (1)

Full Description

<1> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review, CPE\UK\1935 no.1016 17/1/1947 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

An area of ridge and furrow earthworks comprising two or three blocks are visible on these aerial photographs.

<2> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, Composite 1m DSM (01/05/2020) (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

Some of the earthworks visible on the 1940s aerial photograph (see 1) were already quite faint, but it would appear that these earthworks have been significantly reduced, with only one block remaining as a distinct earthwork.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1>XY Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1944-1947. 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review. N/A. Pre 1974 Cheshire. CPE\UK\1935 no.1016 17/1/1947. [Mapped features: #53134 CPE\UK\1935 no.1016 17/1/1947; #53135 CPE\UK\1935 no.1016 17/1/1947]
  • <2> Digital Archive: Environment Agency. 2003-2020. Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys. N/A. Composite 1m DSM (01/05/2020).

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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Location

Grid reference Centred SJ 348 706 (410m by 455m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SJ37SW
Civil Parish SHOTWICK PARK, CHESTER, CHESHIRE WEST AND CHESTER
Historic Township/Parish/County SHOTWICK PARK, EXTRA PAROCHIAL, CHESHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 19 2025 10:24AM