Details

The monument, which lies in three separate areas, includes the remains of a
medieval settlement together with the surviving remains of associated ridge
and furrow cultivation located at West Leaze on the south west outskirts of
Swindon. The site is situated on a clay plain which rises steeply to the north
and north east towards Swindon and falls away gradually south towards the
chalk escarpment which forms the edge of the Marlborough Downs. The settlement
is entirely enclosed, being bounded on the north side by the River Ray and on
the south, east and west sides by a boundary ditch.
The main street of the village is defined by a deeply worn hollow way on the
long axis of the settlement. On either side of this are several raised
platforms representing houses and outbuildings. An excavation of the hollow
way undertaken in 1988 showed the platforms to be 0.4m above the natural
ground level and probably constructed from the material dug from the hollow
way. Between the raised platforms and the surrounding boundary ditch are
earthworks representing cultivation plots.
Two ponds, probably dating to 19th century, have been dug into the hollow way,
one located in the centre of the settlement and the other on the southern
boundary.
The medieval settlement is surrounded on the east, west and south sides by
extensive areas of associated medieval ridge and furrow. A well preserved
sample of this, situated adjacent to the eastern boundary ditch is included
in the scheduling. Additional areas of ridge and furrow have been levelled
by recent cultivation and are therefore not included.
All water troughs, telegraph poles and fence posts are excluded from the
scheduling but the ground beneath these features is included.

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

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Medieval rural settlements in England were marked by great regional diversity
in form, size and type, and the protection of their archaeological remains
needs to take these differences into account. To do this, England has been
divided into three broad Provinces on the basis of each area's distinctive
mixture of nucleated and dispersed settlements. These can be further divided
into sub-Provinces and local regions, possessing characteristics which have
gradually evolved during the last 1500 years or more.
The Upper Avon and Thames local region has mixed characteristics, with
elements of both `village' and `woodland' landscapes. It is distinguished by
substantial densities of villages and hamlets associated with moderate numbers
of scattered farmsteads, giving a rather dense overall pattern, but the region
still carried woodland in 1086, and the Braden and Chippenham Forests reflect
this.

The medieval settlement at West Leaze is well preserved and a rare survival on
the claylands of northern Wiltshire.

Source: Historic England