Post-medieval field boundaries on land South of Beckingham Road (EHER 80963)

Geophysical survey detected the remains of two former post-medieval field boundaries, possible ridge and furrow cultivation and a series of undated ditches in the Northern part of the surveyed area. Subsequent evaluation proved the possible ridge and furrow, and undated ditches to be false positives, probably as a result of the drift geology and shallow topsoil.

September 2013. Geophysical survey. The survey detected the possible remains of two former field boundaries, which are depicted on the 1839 tithe maps of Little and Great Totham, and the 1874-5 Ordnance Survey map of the site. The remains of possible ridge and furrow cultivation were also detected. The most notable features detected were a series of possible soil-filled ditches crossing the Northern part of the surveyed area, the nature and date of which is uncertain. <1> November 2013. Trial trenching. An evaluation investigated the area of possible ridge and furrow and concluded that the linear patterning was derived from the 'banded' nature of the drift geology, and as a result of the shallow topsoil which demonstrated plough and tire ruts in the ploughsoil. <2>