Malverns AONB NMP

The aerial survey of the Malvern Hills formed part of an archaeological survey of the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) carried out by survey staff of English Heritage, Swindon. There are three main elements to the project: Reconnaissance, NMP and field survey. The NMP survey was completed in 2001 and a publication of the whole archaeological survey entitled The Malvern Hills: An ancient landscape was produced in 2005. This is available through the English Heritage on-line bookshop or as a PDF or print on demand publication.

The project has shown that aerial survey has something to contribute to an area dominated by upland and pasture as numerous archaeological remains, ranging in date from the Prehistoric to modern periods, were interpreted and mapped from aerial photographs. These included the well known earthwork monuments in the area, such as the late prehistoric hillforts on the Malvern ridge, as well as cropmarks of Bronze Age round barrows and late prehistoric and/or Roman settlements.

The majority of the sites recorded relate to the Medieval and Post Medieval periods, including a large amount of ridge and furrow cultivation and some evidence for settlement. More recent remains consisted of several World War II army camps and hospitals and a number of searchlight batteries.

For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us at: AerialSurvey@english-heritage.org.uk.

The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the NMR English Heritage's public archive.