Medieval cropmarks of motte and bailey, Plash Wood, Arkesden (EHER 18361)

Cropmarks of Motte and Bailey.

Originally a small mound with bailey surrounded by an outer ditch. The earthwork was situated on a clay ridge but was bulldozed about 20 years ago, Plash Wood deforested and the whole area ploughed. It survives as an amorphous swelling containing lighter sub soil and flint around 0.4m high. Its original size and shape is no longer recognisable on the ground. OS 1975 examination of the plan and the OS APs the earthwork does not resemble the classic motte and bailey plan of circle and appended oval. It is similar in many respects to the ditched enclosures "The Rookery" and "The Crump". According to the farmer who destroyed the site no finds were made. <1> <2> A sketch of the mound with a cross section on the OS card. A rescue excavation was carried out in the "teeth of destruction" by S. Rigold. <3> Cropmarks of outer and inner features. <4> An article on the levelling of Plash Wood refers to a debate as to whether the RCHME should schedule the site. <5> Additional photo refs: <6> Additional field boundaries surrounding the site were mapped in 2008. <7> - <8> 2021. Field survey. The Arkesden History Society on 23rd October 2021 conducted an archaeological fieldwalking survey at Plash Wood field. Prehistoric worked flint and a single piece of medieval pot was identified. The document contains further research on the history of the site from documentary evidence. <9> NRHE data transfer: 1950. Field survey. Small mound with bailey surrounded by an outer ditch in Plash Wood at TL 4855 3475, condition fair but overgrown. <10> Visible as an almost oval soil mark. <11> Now destroyed. <12> The earthwork (no local name) situated on a clay ridge was bulldozed about 20 years ago when Plash Wood was deforested, and the whole area ploughed. It survives as an amorphous swelling about 0.4 m in height containing lighter sub-soil and flint; its original size and shape is no longer recognisable on the ground. Examination of the F1 plan and the OS APs, suggests some affinity with the ditched enclosures "The Rookery" and "The Crump" (TL 42 NE 5,6) considered by Hedges to be medieval ringworks. According to the farmer who destroyed the site no finds were made. <13>