Probable medieval windmill mound, West of Wintersleet Farm (EHER 7762)

A probable medieval windmill mound, formerly interpreted as a Bronze Age barrow. It was inspected in 1949, 1964, 1976 and 1987, and excavated in 1966. Bronze Age pottery was recovered from the surface of the mound in 1964, supporting the original interpretation of the earthwork as a barrow. The results of the excavation were inconclusive and are not published, but late medieval pottery was recovered which caused the reinterpretation of the site as a mill mound. More medieval pottery was found by Couchman and this is now the favoured interpretation.

November 1949. Field visit. Bowl barrow, approximate diameter 36.0 metres and 1.2 metres high. Under plough; no trace of ditch. <1> <2> 1964. Field visit. The barrow was being heavily ploughed in 1964 and many flints were brought to the surface, indicating a stone-built cairn in the centre. Rodwell found two Bronze Age pottery sherds, probably from one vessel. Other pottery was also found on the surface (see EHER 7763 and EHER 7764). A protection order has been placed on the site. Crop marks seen from the ground, may indicate three more barrows and rectangular enclosure. <3> <4> 1966. Archaeological excavation. Excavated 1966 by Ian Robertson. Results inconclusive. A mound consisting of layers of clay with late medieval green glazed ware just under the surface. No evidence to support the classification as a barrow; thought to be a mill mound. (Excavation report unpublished.) <5> In that year cropmarks were evident in the field to the north. <4> October 1976. Field visit. The mound lies in an exposed position on a north slope. It has been spread by ploughing and now measures about 30.0m in diameter and 0.8m high, without trace of a ditch. The classification by <5> appears to be correct though no mill is shown by Chapman and Andre. No ground evidence of further features was seen in the surrounding field. Published 1:2500 survey revised. <6> <7> <8> Copy of relevant part of OS 25" in the EHER. <9> June 1987. Field visit. No change. Revised survey (1:2500) correct. <10> A mound excavated in 1966. Thought to be a mill mound or possibly a barrow. Bronze age pottery was found on the surface, also flints (possibly from a ploughed-out cairn). Cropmarks were visible here in 1965 and thought to be barrows. Rodwell thought this was a barrow, originally at least. Couchman suggests it is definitely medieval because she found medieval pottery below the mound (although admitting there is Bronze Age material in the area). <3> <11> (TL 8380723) Tumulus (NR) . <12> See also <13> and <14>. Site Assessment: In 1964 Rodwell observed that the mound was suffering from heavy ploughing, due to removal of a hedgerow to the north. In 1966 the mound was trenched for the Ministry of Works (MOW) and Chelmsford Museum. Not published. Cropmarks reported to the north (possibly EHER 41039 or EHER 7966). <4> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.