Post-medieval rectangular enclosure and field boundaries, land south of The Manorway, Stanford-le-Hope (EHER 80897)

Archaeological remains of post-medieval date were identified consisting of post medieval field boundaries which formed a rectangular enclosure.

2021. Evaluation. Archaeological remains of post-medieval date were identified in nine of the evaluation trenches, located mainly in the north and east of the site. The majority of these remains consisted of post-medieval ditches that were partially visible on the ground as a series of negative earthworks. The earthworks were surveyed and their layout established to closely correlate with boundaries depicted on the 1839 Stanford-le-Hope Tithe map and subsequent Ordnance Survey mapping from 1867–1882. The boundaries formed a rectangular enclosure, with a smaller parcel of land to its north and a separate more extensive field boundary beyond. The rectangular enclosure is depicted as a plantation with an adjacent pond on the Tithe map. The plantation, pond and the smaller parcel of land to the north are not, however, depicted on early Ordnance Survey mapping, suggesting a change of landuse by the 1860s. The rectangular enclosure itself continued in use throughout the remainder of the 19th century and into the 20th century, and was still depicted on OS mapping as late as 1970s and 80s. Other recorded post-medieval remains consisted of three gullies, possibly with an agricultural function and an additional ditch not depicted on mapping. One piece of prehistoric worked flint was recovered which was residual in a later context. <1>