Linear bank. (1)
A review of the available historic mapping illustrates the earthwork’s presence at the Site since at least the mid- to late 19th century, depicted on the 1886 First Edition Ordnance Survey map. This area of the Estate was largely developed from 1854 onwards by the 5th Duke of Portland, and included a gas works built specifically to light the Duke’s tunnels built across the Estate. The former gas works have now been replaced by the Estate Farm Shop, Harley Gallery, Portland Collection and Harley Café. It is worth noting that the line of the earthwork is parallel with the access road, and ends abruptly to its east, in direct alignment with the eastern boundary of the opposing former gas works. This evidence, along with its viewed form and structure, and position and alignment, all indicate a mid- 19th century date, contemporary with the remainder of development in this area of the Estate and its access route. There is, at present, no evidence to suggest the earthwork was onstructed as a result of, or relates to, earlier human activity in the area. Since its construction, the earthwork has under-gone numerous alterations. The most clear and obvious physical impacts noted during the site visit include a section excavated through the bund in order to accommodate an electric security gate, an area of removed bank for the installation of utilities and services and a modern set of brick and concrete access steps which have caused localised disturbance. (Figures and Plates in Report DR2583). (2)

Grid ref for SW end.

Two deliberately dumped deposits, one of compacted mid-brown silty, stony clay with sandstone fragments and the other of mid-yellow brown sand, formed the linear earthwork. The layer appeared to be contemporaneous; the clay layer lay to the south by the road, while the sandy layer had been deposited to the north. Both deposits extended beyond the depth of the excavation, at over 1.45 m deep, and so any former ground surface that may have been sealed beneath the bank was not seen. Three fragments of 19th-century ceramic, horseshoe-shaped land drains were recovered from the mid-yellow brown sand context. (3)

Three fragments from handmade, ceramic, horseshoe-shaped land drains, weighing 3,419 g, were recovered. The overall dimensions of the drains are approximately 13” (330–5 mm) long x 5” (130 mm) wide x 4.5” (15 mm) high. Two fragments join and both drains have finger indentations on the inner and outer surface in the same position, which suggests they were manufactured in the same location. The absence of a ‘drain’ stamp could indicate that they pre-date 1826 when the tax exemption was introduced on field drains. (3)

<1> OS, 1919, 1:2500, County Series 1919 (Map). SNT1028.

Other Refs: 13/13

<2> Wessex Archæology, 2020, Proposed Secret Garden, Welbeck Estate
Welbeck, Nottinghamshire. Heritage Impact Assessment (Unpublished document). SNT5229.

<3> Clare Jackson-Slater, 2023, Secret Garden, Welbeck Estate, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire: Archaeological watching brief. (Unpublished document). SNT5628.