Lowland heathland historic information

Heathland predominates, along with large areas of twentieth-century coniferous plantation on areas of former heathland. Some very piecemeal small-scale enclosure on the fringes. Occasional small isolated enclosures associated with the exploitation of the heathland in relatively modern times.

Known archaeology

Relatively little known. Known features tend to be prehistoric earthworks, such as barrows, and twentieth-century military remains – slit trenches etc. However, archaeological work in adjacent areas of (generally) former heathland reveals dense occupation and industrial activity in the prehistoric and Roman periods. It is to be expected that extensive prehistoric field systems and associated settlements survive in heathland areas, as over-farming led to the creation of the heaths in the Bronze Age. There is very little in the Historic Environment Register relating to later industrial activity and other uses and exploitation of the heath in historic times. Features must survive. The heathland cries out for survey.