Monument record 330/1 - Late Prehistoric or Romano-British Enclosure near Rawhead

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, No.9 (1983) p.35-6 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

A prominent cropmark was observed from the air on 12 August 1982 which apparently represented a site of two periods of occupation.

The later period was represented by a fairly broad dark band which marked a formerly existing ditch of defensive character and which was interrupted on one side by an entrance causeway. These features were roughly aligned with existing field boundaries, i.e. NE to SW, but they were clearly not of recent agricultural origin. There were few features on the hilltop to which the mark could be related and which could give it scale. Nevertheless, sufficient was obtainable to suggest that the ditch probably enclosed an area of about 50 feet (15m) square. No structure was visible in this rectangular enclosure, but it could have been a post-hole construction leaving little trace. The north and west corners of the enclosure were distinct and were rounded but the south-east side with its corners was less clear.

The fainter part of the cropmark is presumed to be earlier and consists of a circular ditch line, slighter in character than its later counterpart and partly cut or overlain by it. The circular ditch has a dark round blob at its centre.

Various possible interpretations of the cropmark complex have been considered, including a medieval moat for the rectangle and a windmill site for the circular feature. There is also the possibility that the circular cropmark is that of a prehistoric barrow. It may also be a prehistoric or Romano-British religious site of more than one period, or that it was a signal station or beacon site of the Roman period.

<2> Williams SR, 1970s-1980s, Rhys Williams' Aerial Photographs, 3.293 (Bickerton 1007) (Aerial Photograph). SCH4607.

<3> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, Run 20 / No.2724 / 17/05/1973 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

A possible cropmark is visible on this photograph. There is a large D shaped enclosure c.110m x c.65m defined by a ditch, or maybe a double ditch, up to c.8m wide. There is a possible off centre entrance on the north-western side. There are suggestions of internal features, the most prominent being a sub-circular or U shaped linear cropmark c.22m in diameter and a large dark circular cropmark c.8m in diameter. There are further linear cropmarks in the immediate vicinity.

<4> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 02/09/2015 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Possible prehistoric settlement enclosure.