Post-medieval boundary ditch at land at Stanford Road, Stanford-le-Hope (EHER 80901)

The post-medieval boundary ditch divides the site into two fields and demonstrates the establishment of a more formalised and enclosed agricultural system.

October 2019. Trial trenching. The creation of the large NNW-SSE field boundary ditch divides the site into two fields and demonstrates the establishment of a more formalised and enclosed agricultural system. While early 19th century mapping indicates that this boundary functioned in the post-medieval period, it may have had earlier origins. Its proximity to the Late Iron Age to Roman boundary here is noteworthy; perhaps its positioning was perhaps at least influenced by some remnant earthwork remains. Two undated linear features were recorded, one of which appears to truncate the earlier ones. It seems likely they are related to the continuation of agricultural activities into the post-medieval to modern period, as the site appears to have remained unchanged in use. The undated pit may also be related to these activities, while the linear feature recorded in the same trench may in fact be of natural origin. <1>