Aston Botterell Ringwork

Description

Scheduled in 2001 as ringwork and former field boundary banks. The ringwork is situated on a gentle south facing slope in an area of undulating land. It lies within the hamlet of Aston Botterell, 100m W of C12 Church of St Michael and 50m to the west of Aston Manor, built in C13. It is probable that in C13 the manor house replaced the ringwork as the manorial residence. The ringwork is an oval-shaped enclosure, measuring approximately 66m NS by 74m EW. The earthwork defences define an internal area apx 32m by 40m and consist of an internal bank about 7m wide, composed of earth and stone, surrounded by a ditch also about 7m wide, enclosed by an outer bank apx 3m wide. The northern half of the defensive circuit is much more prominent than the southern half (more details in source) .. To compensate for the natural fall in the ground surface, the southern half of the interior has been slightly raised in order to create a level building platform. To the west and south of the ringwork are the remains of former field boundary banks, set at right angles to one another. These banks appear to be later than the ringwork, with one running up to its western edge. The site is a good example of a type of monument relatively rare in Shropshire, and its importance is enhanced by its proximity to the church and its likely association with Aston Manor. (EH scheduling report 2001)