Summary

A bivallate enclosure 400m south-east of Pottles Farm.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 17 November 2015. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument includes a bivallate enclosure situated on a low rise on the southern side of a deep valley to the west of the River Exe at its confluence with the River Clyst. The enclosure survives as entirely buried features and is visible on aerial photographs as a double ditched square enclosure of approximately 70m overall, with closely spaced ditches and an entrance on the southern side. The enclosure is though to date to the prehistoric or Roman periods.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

The precise nature and date of the bivallate enclosure 400m south east of Pottles Farm is unknown, but it would appear to be a defended small scale settlement or fortlet given its shape and proximity to Exeter. Such enclosures are unusual preservations close to major urban centres and in areas of rich agricultural land, because they have been consistently used through time as a much valued resource. The enclosure indicates the past importance which was attached to such a resource, hence its likely defensive nature. It helps to explain social and strategic pressures and will also contain archaeological and environmental evidence relating to its construction, use, date, and the nature of the settlement as either an agricultural or military consequence of existing land use pressure or political and social manoeuvrings.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:-447921

Source: Historic England