Details

The monument includes an earthwork enclosure known as Scrubbed Oak, and a
length of linear boundary earthwork situated on a slight south facing slope.
It is one of several surviving enclosures located within Great Ridge, an
extensive area of woodland which occupies a clay outcrop on the undulating
south Wiltshire chalklands.
The enclosure is rectangular in plan with rounded corners and defines an area
of 0.5ha. It is formed by a bank which varies in width from less than 3m to 4m
wide and is surrounded by a ditch up to 3m wide and a maximum of 0.6m deep
below the crest of the bank. It is 69m from north to south and 78m from east
to west.
A linear boundary earthwork extends from the south eastern corner of the
enclosure and continues westwards beyond the south western corner and can be
traced for a considerable distance. The linear earthwork is formed by a ditch
either side of which is a bank and has an overall width of 8m. A 20m section
is included in the scheduling. Its relationship with the enclosure suggests
that it is of a later date and possibly comparatively recent date.
Although it can be traced as a slight feature for a considerable distance
westwards, only a well preserved 20m section is included in the scheduling.

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

Enclosures provide evidence of land use, agricultural practices and habitation
from the prehistoric period onward. They were constructed as stock pens, as
protected areas for crop growing or for settlement and their size and function
may vary considerably depending on their particular function. Their variation
in form, longevity and their relationship to other monument classes, including
field systems and linear boundary earthworks, provide information on the
diversity of social organisation and farming practices throughout the period
of their use.
Enclosures are central to understanding the development of the rural landscape
and as such well preserved examples are considered worthy of protection.
The earthwork enclosure known as Scrubbed Oak survives well and will contain
archaeological remains and environmental evidence relating to the monument and
the landscape in which it was constructed.
Although many linear boundaries can be demonstrated as dating to the later
prehistoric period (the Middle Bronze Age and Iron Age), the example
associated with the Scrubbed Oak enclosure appears to be of considerably later
date. As such only a short and well preserved section which demonstrates a
clear physical relationship with the enclosure has been included within the
scheduling.

Source: Historic England