York Historic Environment Record

NMR Information:

The cropmarks of an extensive site comprising a field system of rectilinear enclosures, associated round houses, are visible to the west and south of Wheldrake Wood, centred at SE 6505 4635. The field system is largely rectilinear in nature and there are many double-ditched elements, although whether these relate to enclosures or trackways is not entirely clear. Probable Iron Age/Roman date.
(1-1a)

The above enclosure complex was transcribed at a scale of 1:10,000 as part of the Vale of York Project. The field system is quite extensive, extending north to south for 1.2 km and west to east for 1.1 km. A possible Iron Age square barrow was identified at SE 6501 4608. A large D-shaped enclosure (130m x 130m) was also identified, centred at SE 6543 4596. It appears to be a different phase from the field system, but the relationship between the two is uncertain. A further enclosure complex lies to the north-east (recorded in SE 64 NE 5), north of Wheldrake Wood, and to the west (recorded in SE 64 NW 14) which is probably part of the same field system.
(2-3)

SE 6495 4655. Additional rectilinear enclosures and field boundaries in the western part of this complex are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs taken in July 2002. (4)

1a Oblique aerial photograph reference number NMR SE 6446/21-4; SE 6546/31-46
1 RCHME/EH/HE Aerial Photographers comment RCHME Aerial Reconnaissance/08-JUL-1996
2 Oblique aerial photograph reference number NMR SE 6546/50 (12893/20) 02-AUG-1996
3 Oblique aerial photograph reference number YAT (PVA 2/7 10,13,14) XX-XXX-1979
4 Oblique aerial photograph reference number NMR SE 6546/56-59 (17727/20-23) 29-JUL-2002

Further description (relating specifically to the upper polygon which includes more detailed features):

An Iron Age/Roman field system is visible as cropmarks on air photographs, centred at SE 6546 4715. It comprises rectilinear enclosures, with many double-ditched elements. A sub-circular enclosure (SE 6540 4724), 30 metres across, with a possible double-ditched trackway on its western side, is also identified. The form of this enclosure has parallels elsewhere (recorded in SE 83 NW 12 & 16). The form of the rectilinear complex is simliar to one which lies to the south-west (recorded in SE 64 NE 1 and SE 64 NW 14), and may be part of the same field system. (1)

1 Oblique aerial photograph reference number NMR SE 6547/16 (12771/19) 18-AUG-1995