Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Boundary earthworks on Wilsford Down

A Scheduled Monument in Charlton (Upavon Ward), Wiltshire

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.2829 / 51°16'58"N

Longitude: -1.875 / 1°52'30"W

OS Eastings: 408811.906

OS Northings: 153760.8008

OS Grid: SU088537

Mapcode National: GBR 3X9.DSS

Mapcode Global: VHB4X.G03V

Entry Name: Boundary earthworks on Wilsford Down

Scheduled Date: 8 January 1990

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1010177

English Heritage Legacy ID: 10033

County: Wiltshire

Civil Parish: Charlton (Upavon Ward)

Traditional County: Wiltshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Wiltshire

Details

A series of linear earthworks on Wilsford Down. The monument includes : -
1 - a well defined ditch and bank with an overall width of 16m. The main
earthwork is joined from the south by another ditch c.12m wide and at its
eastern end it meets another ditch and bank running north-south.
2 - A boundary earthwork surviving as a bank and ditch with a maximum overall
width of c.12m. To the north of the scheduled area the feature is visible as a
cropmark.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

The most complete and extensive survival of chalk downland archaeological
remains in central southern England occurs on Salisbury Plain, particularly in
those areas lying within the Salisbury Plain Training Area. These remains
represent one of the few extant archaeological "landscapes" in Britain and are
considered to be of special significance because they differ in character from
those in other areas with comparable levels of preservation. Individual sites
on Salisbury Plain are seen as being additionally important because the
evidence of their direct association with each other survives so well.
Boundary earthworks which include linear earthworks, so called ranch
boundaries, dykes and cross ridge dykes are particularly well preserved in the
Salisbury Plain Training Area. They provide important evidence of prehistoric
landholdings, land reorganisation and changing agricultural practices through
time.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Trust for Wessex Archaeology, (1987)
Wiltshire Library & Museum Service, (1987)

Source: Historic England

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.