I went with Mrs Woman and offspring to Kilminorth Farm, nr Looe, Cornwall at easter to see some old friends. We had been before when Mrs Woman was Miss Woman! What I noticed this time was a large enclosure on the rise opposite the farm cottages.The wall is about six foot thick and the same in height. There is another feature surrounding the North apex of the enclosure. The owner of the cottages, Gary, said he was lead to believe it was Roman, loads of Roman finds etc, but had no idea what it was for. I headed off to the local library with no luck, asked our friends, with no luck and have searched the net but have not found anything regarding this site.
A piccy follows but if you have google earth, can someone have a look and see what they think it may be please….. its doing my head in!!
co-ordinates are 50°21’35.36″N 4°28’58.45″W
Thanks
Ivan
By: Ivan - 18th June 2007 at 20:19
Hi Mr Regal!
Thanks for your reply. The owner told me that 90% of the finds were Roman coins. As regards the proximity of the river, it is “extremely” tidal. By which, I mean that 90 minutes either side of high tide makes it un-navigable and the exposed silt is basically quicksand…… I know this from experience!!! Could it be a Romano-Briton structure built on an earlier enclosure? The enormity of the wall makes me doubtful of it being an animal enclosure. It is 6′ thick and of a good quality construction….. better condition than Hadrians Wall! :confused:
Although it is built on high ground, there are areas within a 1/2 mile radius that are higher, which makes me doubt a military site. A mile and a half to the NW is what appears to be more earthworks that seem to be ploughed out.
Here…..
50°22’21.51″N 4°30’40.58″W
Any relationship? Hmmm??????!!
PS; MESSAGE TO MODS:
Can we have a ‘bl00dy well confused about things other than aircraft and womens mood swings’ forum please!! 😀
By: 91Regal - 18th June 2007 at 14:38
Ivan
Have the finds from the area definately been identified as Roman, because the site doesn’t seem to conform to the rectilinear planforms that they preferred? The northern feature appears more like a pre-Roman earthwork – (my O/S map indicates such a feature about one kilometre due W., just S. of a place called Ten Acre Wood).
The closeness of the West Looe River makes me think that this was a defensive compound against attack from such a direction, principally to stop cattle being stolen – I’m assuming the river is tidal this close to the sea. Datewise my guess is any time from Bronze age to Medieval. Just because Roman finds may have been found adjacent doesn’t mean that it’s their work.
Having said the above, I am by no stretch of the imagination an archaelogist, just have an interest and voicing a few thoughts.
By: scotavia - 16th June 2007 at 22:27
Try this site of locations
http://www.roman-britain.org/maps/maps.htm
By: WP840 - 16th June 2007 at 20:33
Easily sorted, just give Time Team a bell!
“Tony…!”
By: John Aeroclub - 16th June 2007 at 19:20
I am not an archaeologist but merely someone with an interest in the subject.
It looks Roman to me as I have seen similar sites here in Nottinghamshire and elswhere.
A good source of info on this type of site are to be found in the by county volume/book series of Victoria’s History of England published in the late 1800’s which a major library should hold a relevent copy of. The Nottinghamshire volume contains simple ground plans of all the sites such as hill forts and roman settlements from various surveys done in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Apart from this the library should point you in the direction of the local Archaeological society.
Cheers
John
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June 15, 2007 at 9:20 pm