Type

Monument

Title / Name

Late Iron Age Enclosure, North of Luton Lye House

Summary

Possible late Iron Age temple site just north of Luton Lye House in Savernake Forest.

TEMPLE; ENCLOSURE; GARDEN FEATURE, Late Iron Age to Late C19 (-100 to 1900)

Source Detail: Environment Agency, 2006

Title: LiDAR Imagery 2006

Summary: No summary information. Source ID: SWI22426

Description: A possible temple complex of late Iron Age date visible as an earthwork (centred at SU 22736715) was mapped and interpreted from LIDAR derived imagery as part of the Savernake Forest NMP project. The feature appears as a multivallate sub-rectangular enclosure with an internal area of circa 96 meters by 75 meters. There are two ditches, with at least two banks, possibly a third, with a berm as well covering an area of nearly 30 meters. The only apparently clear entrance is on the eastern side, but this also coincides with a forest track. The interpretation of the site as a temple complex is based on the complexity of its earthworks; the date is based on its relationship with the Roman road described in NMR record SU26NW 244. It appears from the LIDAR derived imagery as though the enclosure is cut by the Roman road on its western side, which places the enclosure earlier than the road.

Source Detail: Crutchley, S., Small, F. + Bowden, M., 2009

Title: Savernake Forest: A Report for the National Mapping Programme

Summary: Survey Source ID: SWI25624

Additional Information: English Heritage

Description: The site has also been subject to a summary field visit where the relationship was confirmed, but it should be noted that the area has dense undergrowth and the site where the precise relationship between the two features would be most clear has suffered from later disturbance.

Source Detail: Bathe, G. M., 2008

Title: Pers comm G Bathe

Summary: No summary information. Source ID: SWI26321

Description: Since the course of the road was used in part for the Marlborough to Bedwyn road in medieval and post medieval times there is a slight possibility that the slighting of the enclosure dates to some later re-use and revision, which would mean that the enclosure could be a much later park or garden feature. The documentary evidence, however suggests that the former Marlborough road diverges from that of the Roman road further south.

Source Detail: Historic England, Various

Title: National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) Entry

Summary: Data held by the NRHE database. The data is made available and licenced under the Open Government Licence version 3. Source ID: SWI29488