Earthwork in Island

On the S shore of Island Lake. In the early 1900’s Knox (1911, 330-333) recorded an elaborate array of rectilinear field plots and enclosures, which he called 'baileys’, associated with a moated site (MA093-017006-) and Island House, a fortified house (MA093-017003-). Defined by banks and ditches, the field plots extended over an area of c. 190m N−S by 150m E−W. Already at this date the ‘ramparts were much ruined and the ditches much filled.’ (ibid. 333). The remains were largely levelled in the 20th century; one rectangular plot (45m NNE−SSW; 21m WNW−ESE) survives immediately S of the moated site. It is defined on its N side by the fosse of the moated site and on the other sides by an earthen bank (Wth 1.8m; int. H 0.3m; ext. H 0.6m) with an external fosse (Wth 1.2m; ext. D 0.45m), and is truncated at SE by a later field wall. Immediately to S is a natural rise or small knoll with a subrectangular platform (c. 11.5m N−S; 11-12m E−W) scarped into its summit. The scarp (H 0.7m) is well defined on the NW, N and E but appear to have been partly dug away at S. It appears to be much as it was when Knox (1911, 332) saw it: ‘a flat platform 13 yards [12m] by 13 yards, 3 to 4 feet [c. 1m] above the surrounding level. The sides have been somewhat cut into and there is a slight trace of a small rampart along its northern side.’ He speculated that it might have served as ‘a guard-house or watch-house…and as a look-out to the west.’ Within the complex of earthworks, Knox also noted remnants of a possible stone castle (MA093-017002-) and two buildings (MA093-017004-; MA093-017005-) of which there is now no trace at ground level. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 1 July 2022