Details

The monument includes a rectangular earthwork enclosure lying on the floor and
lower slopes of Newbarn Combe immediately south of Little Down. The earthwork,
the longer sides of which are aligned north west-south east, includes a bank
with an external ditch and encloses an area of approximately 0.5ha. A possible
original entrance lies on the north east side. Within the enclosed area lie a
small nearly square earthwork enclosure and, placed centrally on the base of
the combe, a circular pond, now concrete lined.
Excavations by P G Stone in 1910 provided evidence for a medieval date for
the enclosure and suggested that, in the 18th century, a barn had stood within
the small inner earthwork enclosure. Excavations by M J Allen in 1990 provided
evidence for the environmental history of the monument.
All fence posts and the concrete pond lining are excluded from the scheduling
although the ground beneath these features is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Earthen enclosures occur throughout the country, the intensity of their
distribution determined by local topography and the nature of the agricultural
system prevalent within the region. They provide evidence of land use and
agricultural practices in both the prehistoric and historic period and were a
common feature of the medieval countryside. They were constructed as stock
pens or as protected areas for crop growing and were sometimes subdivided to
provide temporary accommodation for stock, farmers or herdsmen. The size and
form of enclosures may vary considerably depending on their particular
function.
Their variation in form, longevity and their relationship to other monument
classes, including field systems, provide information on the diversity and
social organisation of farming practices throughout the period of their use.
The enclosure south of Little Down is a well preserved example of its class
and has been demonstrated, by part excavation, to contain archaeological
deposits providing information about medieval and earlier land use,
environment and economy.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Allen, M G, The Land Use History of the Southern English Chalklands, (1994), 169-182
Stone, P G, 'Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries: Second Series' in Calbourne Valley; Newbarn Little Down, , Vol. Vol 24, (1912), 66-68

Source: Historic England