Interpretation of the acquired GPR data supports the suggestion that there are likely to be two buried cisterns beneath the area surveyed.

Whilst it is always possible that these cisterns are high medieval, it seems more likely that they date to the 15th/16th centuries at the earliest. Even though there are springs in the valley, and many recorded cisterns were spring fed, here we see distinct, probably clay lined ground funneling identified, certainly evident on the North-Western example and likely also on the South-Eastern. Logic suggests this was to channel rain water into the cisterns, and whilst rain has always been a source of water for storage, this funnelling
appears to be unique with no equivalent examples having been discovered, although it seems most likely that this is because it has not been recognised to date.

It cannot be ignored that by the 18th century Rainbacks were becoming common amongst the middle classes. In these, rainwater was channelled from the buildings roof into
underground cisterns, as found at Harwich, Essex (Medieval Archaeology 8: 278). These were generally built in ‘basements’ underneath the houses and the use of pipes precluded the need for any ground based funnelling as may be displayed here.

There are also a number of further buried utilities in the area, and while some have been identified as part of this interpretation others are likely to exist that have not been clearly identified.

It is possible that the combination of these anomalies relates to a buried cistern surrounded by a material used to direct water towards the cistern, though further investigation would be required.

Stephen Twist & Dave Underhill, 2021, Geophysical Survey: Ground Penetrating Radar, Beauvale Manor Farm, Greasley, Notts (Unpublished document). SNT5993.