Medieval enclosed settlement with associated field settlement at Parcel A, land west of Isabel Drive (EHER 81127)

The majority of the remains dated to the medieval period and comprised a small, enclosed settlement with associated field systems located adjacent to Alsa Wood, which is medieval in origin. The main period of occupation was during the 12–14th centuries, although it may have been established as early as the late 11th century.

July to November 2021. Excavation. The majority of the remains dated to the medieval period and comprised a small, enclosed settlement with associated field systems located adjacent to Alsa Wood, which is medieval in origin. The main period of occupation was during the 12 to 14th centuries, although it may have been established as early as the late 11th century. The enclosure had a domestic focus within its western half, including four structures and a cluster of storage and rubbish pits. A total of five structures were identified within the enclosure, comprising three stone building platforms and two defined by postholes and f foundation trenches. It is unlikely that all of these structures were contemporaneous, with the stone building platforms possibly postdating the timber structures. A series of rectilinear field systems extended north from the enclosure, within which were two further possible structures and a cluster of water-pits. Both structures were formed of large post-pits and may represent raised stores or granaries. A trackway ran alongside the southern side of the enclosure, a short stretch of which survives within Alsa Wood, with evidence of a metalled surface. The location of the settlement adjacent to Alsa Wood suggests that its main economic basis involved exploitation of the woodland resources. The settlement appears to have been abandoned by the 15th century. Enclosures Ditches G40 and G51, which were up to 2.5m wide and 0.9m deep, formed an enclosure around the settlement that bounded an area in excess of c.0.25ha. They lined up with extant ditches a short distance into Alsa Wood, suggesting that the enclosure was roughly rectangular in plan. The north-eastern part of the enclosure appears to have been left open at first to the field systems to the north (L20), with a large gap between the terminals of ditches G40 and G51. Later, ditches G41 and G29 closed off much of this opening, defining a new entrance between them that was c.4m wide. An entrance also appears to have remained between ditches G51 and G17, although G17 was truncated to the south by later quarrying and would likely have terminated much closer to G51. Ditch G17 also extended northwards beyond the enclosure to double as a landscape boundary. Ditch G18 was roughly parallel to the boundary ditch and the two may have acted as a ‘race’, designed to allow sheep or cattle to be driven between the ditches in single file. Ditch G52 ran parallel to the south side of the enclosure, forming a trackway measuring c.12m wide. G52 was larger than the enclosure ditch, measuring 3.2m wide and 1.2m deep. Extant ditches defining a continuation of the trackway could be observed within Alsa Wood, immediately west of the site. A layer of gravel survived just beneath the topsoil between the two extant ditches, suggesting that the trackway may once have had a metalled surface. Structures Three building platforms (G66, G81 and G82) were constructed along the south-east side of the enclosure. Each comprised a stone surface of gravel and flint constructed within a shallow pit. The stone surface was sparse and inconsistent within all three platforms, a likely result of being robbed out for stone; the maximum thickness of the surface was 0.15m. Platform G66, near the eastern end of the enclosure, was ‘L-shaped’ in plan and measured c.15m x 8m. Platform G82, to the south-west of G66, was also ‘L-shaped’, and measured c.12m x 8m with no internal features. Platform G81, further south-west again, was sub-square in plan, measuring c.8m wide. Its single internal feature was a large, steep-sided oval pit, measuring 3.2m x 1.8m and 0.4m deep, the function of which is uncertain. Timber structure L15 located directly north of building platform G81, was evidenced primarily by postholes and post-pits, which formed rectangular array measuring c.21m x 5m. Structure L16 was located at the western limit of the excavation area and backed onto the western wall of L15. A combination of postholes, post-pits and gullies that could have held posts or beams may represent multiple buildings or a single large rectangular structure with internal divisions, measuring at least c.17m x 9m. Enclosed features Features in the east half of the enclosure were sparse in comparison to the west, comprising scattered pits and linear divisions. Three short gullies extended from the south-west corner of building platform G66, whilst three larger ditches extended to the north of G66. A large, shallow depression (G62) at the southern end of these ditches sealed a possible storage pit G63. Field system The area north of the main settlement enclosure was organised into a system of rectangular fields, defined by a series of ditches and contained between the enclosure and boundary ditch G17. The full extent of the fields was uncertain, as the ditches continued beyond the north and west limits of the main excavation area. The smallest field was adjacent to the settlement enclosure’s northern entrance and enclosed a cluster of water-pits and a potential structure. The four water-pits (G37 and G38) were located in the southern half of the field and measured 1.5–3.0m in diameter and 1.15–1.75m deep, with steep sides and flat bases. A fragment of worked timber was recovered from the lower fills of water-pit G38. A group of seven oval, steep-sided pits G34, measuring 1.0–1.5m long, 0.8–1.2m wide and 0.30– 0.55m deep, formed an ‘L’-shape against the western edge of the field, measuring c.7 x 6m. Their arrangement suggests that they may have served as post-pits for a timber structure. Four similar but slightly smaller pits G35 to the south of G34, one of which contained medieval pottery sherds, were arranged in a square c.2.5m wide and may have defined another small structure, reminiscent of the four-post ‘granaries’ often found on prehistoric sites. This field was later reorganised and expanded in size by ditch L35 . It is uncertain whether the fields to the north and west were still in use at this time, as L35 cut through both G16 and G23. Field Boundary A later shallow, meandering ditch L8 connected enclosure L10 to field boundary L35, continuing beyond the north-west corner of the field and splitting into two. It may have been deliberately dug between L10 and L35 to drain water from the former, with the meandering path as it headed north the result of water erosion. <1>