Witham Valley NMP

The Witham Valley National Mapping Programme (NMP) Project was part of a wider multi-disciplinary and multi-period project, Lincoln and the Witham Valley Project, designated one of a series of ‘Beacon Projects’ planned by English Heritage for 2003-2005. ‘Beacon Projects’ represent projects of regional or national importance wherein English Heritage is able to demonstrate its skills to government and partners.

The archaeological potential of the Witham Valley was highlighted in the  publication, Time and Tide: The Archaeology of the Witham Valley (Catney and Start, 2003), which published the proceedings of a seminar held in 2001. It provided an evaluation of the archaeology through desk-based assessment, excavation and survey. The report also proposed a programme of research to investigate landscape change and settlement in the valley from prehistoric to medieval times. The aerial survey component, undertaken by English Heritage Investigators in York, was surveyed to NMP standards. The project started on 8th September 2004 and was completed by 8th March 2005. The project mapped and recorded archaeological sites from prehistoric sites to twentieth century military remains.

The earliest diagnostic prehistoric monument forms identified from aerial photography are funerary monuments, particularly round barrows such as these at Barlings barrow cemetery.
Little new evidence of Roman settlement has been produced by the aerial survey mapping, but more information has been recorded on the Car Dyke, which is a prominent feature in the flat fen landscape.

The relationship of medieval abbeys with existing road causeways, some of which may have had their origins in prehistory, is of particular interest. This is highlighted by a piece of complementary work carried out by our field survey team at Barlings Abbey

The fens have a long history of exploitation and during medieval and post medieval times duck decoy ponds, constructed to catch wildfowl, were prevalent. Duck decoy ponds were first introduced in Lincolnshire and Essex before spreading to other counties. One of the earliest records of duck decoys is an engraving from 1665 in St James Park, London and some decoys were recorded as still being in use in 1886.

In addition to the standard NMP mapping of the project area lidar data flown by the Environment Agency in 2001 was also examined to see what features were visible.

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.

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.