NHER 54812 (Designed Landscape record) - East Wood, Denton

Earthwork survey.
East Wood covers an area of 14.3 hectares; it is unusually separated from the eastern parish boundary by a string of narrow fields. The northern end of the wood lies on a relatively steep north-facing slope which runs down to the nearby stream. The northern and southern boundaries of the wood are marked out with a substantial boundary bank, although the stream takes the place of the ditch along the northern boundary. The eastern, south eastern and south western boundaries are very different in character; they are less substantial and straighter. It is clear that the wood has contracted in a number of stages. The Ordnance Survey 6 inch 1st edition map shows that the wood once extended off to the south east, traces of the boundary of this part of the wood remain in the field. A lynchet which once marked part of the now missing wood continues all the way to the parish boundary, where a bank and ditch running along the boundary strongly suggest that the wood originally extended all the way up to the parish boundary. Another lynchet to the west of the wood, which runs parallel to the current boundary of the wood, also suggests that the wood has shrunk along its western edge. The 1st edition map also shows a short field boundary running east-west in this area suggesting that the wood was grubbed out in stages here too, like the eastern edge before the mid-19th century. Overall, the original area of the wood would have covered around seventy acres, roughly twice its present area. The Doomsday book records woodland for thirty swine in Denton. In the middle of the western boundary of the wood a hollow way extends into the central part of the wood, where a largish pit can be found. Along this hollow way a series of ditches fan out, none of which are particularly long.
C. Goodwin (NLA), 26 August 2010.