NHER 38236 (Monument record) - Post medieval ridge and furrow and other features

June 2003. NMP.
There are several areas of ridge and furrow type earthwork (S1), divided by the drains and channels that form the field boundaries in this area. These are relatively straight and narrow, and more akin to un-harrowed plough furrows, and probably represent a form of lazybedding undertaken extensively on the newly reclaimed saltmarsh in the Post-medieval period. They may have been formed by horse drawn ploughs or steam ploughs, although it is suspected that they pre-date the period of steam traction. There are also a series of fragmentary, denuded earthwork banks within this area. Some of these may be simple land boundaries, although their scale might suggest they were former flood or sea defence banks, on the River Nar floodplain.
There is a possible circular stack stand at TF 6196 1743, to the immediate south of a railway shed (S1), although this feature is not particularly distinct. There are three further circular stack stands at TF 6180 1722 (S2), TF 6194 1766 and TF 6185 1769, and a potential further four or five less distinct circular features within this immediate area. The three mapped features range in diameter from 9m to 21m. These features appear to overlie the ridge and furrow type earthworks and are likely to be Post-medieval in date. There is a sub-rectangular mound in the corner of a field at TF 6173 1751, which may also be a later form of stack base, although it may also once have been the southern end of a bank, which has since been truncated.
M. Brennand (NMP), 16 June 2003.