Well and Chapel Woods, Watton

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Danesfield

In the civil parish of Watton At Stone. In the historic county of Hertfordshire (Modern Authority of Hertfordshire, 1974 county of Hertfordshire).

Two adjacent earthworks in Well and Chapel Woods, the latter possibly the site of a chapel. When seen in circa 1908, Well Wood enclosure was described as sub-circular with a well-defined bank and ditch on the East, the ditch being the more oustanding feature. The enclosure in Chapel Wood appeared to be triangular with a double bank and ditch on the North, the banks being the more outstanding. At the time, it was considered that the earthworks represented a moat. An excavation within the Chapel Wood enclosure by Datchworth Local History Group in 1955 revealed a slight raised platform, the packed flint foundations of a building oriented ENE-WSW, measuring 8.0m by 5.5m: a scatter of Mediaeval roofing tile was present. It is possible that this is the remains of a chapel. Field investigation in 1990 found the sites to be badly disturbed, and the chapel site `unintelligible'. There may be a stratigraphic relationship between the two sites. (PastScape)
'A scatter of early medieval pottery appears on the surface, and a 12C Caen-stone mortar was found' within the enclosure' (Herts HER ref Rook)
Clearly a high status Norman site with earthwork defences. Now isolated from settlement but close to Roman road.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TL28231901

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 364727
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 1780; 1987 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of The Thames Valley and The Chilterns (Malvern) p49 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p221
    Renn, D.F., 1971, Medieval Castles in Hertfordshire (Chichester; Phillimore) p25 [doubtful]
    Montgomerie, 1908, Page, Wm (ed), VCH Hertfordshire Vol2 p122-3
• Journal Articles
  • Anon, 1970, 'Chapel Wood, Well Wood' Herts Archaeological Review Vol1 p20
    Transactions of the East Hertfordshire Archaeological Society Vol3 p175-77
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Tony Rook. 2004. Archaeological assessment, evaluation and watching brief: All Saints' churchyard, Datchworth (R1583). archaeological assessment.