MDE20707 - Possible undated enclosure in Cowley Wood (Monument)

Low banks forming three sides of a possibly square enclosure northwest of Lower Hollacombe are visible on aerial photographs dating to 1947. [1,2] The Tithe Map for Kentisbury [3] shows that this area was subdivided into thin strips of land. The boundaries of these strips had been removed by the time the 25 inch 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map was surveyed [4]. At least one of the boundaries of these strips may be visible at SS 6447 4443 on Royal Air Force images taken in 1946-8 [5]. It is not clear whether the feature transcribed by [2] may be partially explained by this earthwork or if an enclosure exists here. More investigation is required. [3-6] The enclosure was remapped in 2026 following reassessment of the 1946 aerial photography in order to more accurately reflect the representation of features. The strip boundary referred to above does seem to extend further eastwards, but there are posible north-south banks forming the square enclosure identified in this record. [5]