Possible medieval hundred moot hill, Toothill (EHER 4260)

The Toothill at Stanford Rivers may have been a hundred moot-hill in the medieval period, as suggested by the placename. However, there is no conclusive evidence for this.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The Toothill (336 ft) at Stanford Rivers, now marked by the mill mound (see EHER 4261), may have been a hundred moot-hill. <1> 1975. Field survey. According to OS 1975 the mill mound has now been destroyed but according to local tradition it once stood at TL 5154 0258, south west of mill cottage. <2> <3> <4> <5> Name mentioned in 1611. <7> 2017. Trial trenching. No archaeological remains of significance were identified. No features associated with the postulated hundred moot-hill (EHER 4260) or the post-medieval mill mound (EHER 4261) were encountered. Historic Ordnance Survey mapping show that the mound was located just east of the development area in the position now occupied by ‘Mill Place’ with possible mill-related buildings beyond. Some evidence for post-medieval to modern agricultural activity in the form of disturbed subsoil, a plough mark and a ceramic field drain, was recorded. Ordnance Survey maps from the 1870s through to the 1970s depict a roadside pond of diminishing size close to the Mill Lane/Toot Hill Road junction. However, localised brick rubble noted in the overburden at the south-east end of the trench may constitute the very edge of the pond backfill. <8>