Monument record CLA 010 - Lower Common, Clare Camp; Erbury (Un)

Clare Camp formerly Erbury.
Irregular quadrangular in plan, 250m E-W. 210m N-S. Earthwork consists of a double bank and ditch. In 1911 the bank on the N side was 9 feet high and on the SW side 6 feet high. Inner bank higher than the outer (S1). Interior has various lumps and depressions (S2)(S3). Now under grass (S1).
Double banked earthwork enclosure, 7-8 acres, seen as cropmarks (S6, S7).
Has been suggested that this is an IA hillfort, but as yet there is no evidence to confirm this. Has also been suggested that this was the site of the LSax Collegiate Church of St John (R1), but this was probably in the castle. (See also Med - for later (? if not original) use of the earthwork.)
Name: Erbury (Erdebir 1309-1310, Erbury 1336, Erbury Garden 1554 (R2)(from O.E. earth-burh 'earth fortification', cf Arbury Camp, Cambridge). Name Erbury was used as a synonym for manor of Clare cum Chilton, especially in C14. Area extended to SW in 1981 and W in 1989 to include cropmarks on (S2)(S3).
1993: for results of earthwork survey by RCHME see (S5).
1994: geophysical surveys (magnetometer and resistivity) by RCHME and AML - details in file.
See also Med.

1994:Magnetometer and earth resistance surveys were carried out which were both reasonably successful and usefully complemented the RCHME surface topography survey. The geophysical results tie up remarkably well with the interpretation of the earthworks demonstrating that coordinating the two types of survey was a very worthwhile exercise. The magnetometer response is generally quiet and unremarkable and is characterised by widespread reactions to ferrous debris that would be expected at a site surrounded by modern settlement and favoured as a local recreational area. There is unfortunately negligible evidence for any Iron Age occupation features in those parts of the interior of the Camp sampled (approximately 60 percent of the internal area). The lack of significant magnetic response even over the earthworks inside the Camp suggests that conditions may not be ideal for detecting silted features such as pits. Notwithstanding the above, promising magnetic results were obtained over the earthworks in the south-east sector of the camp which are thought to represent a later site of a Medieval manor. The outlines of two rectangular buildings with their long axes at right angles to one another have been clearly detected as strongly positive magnetic anomalies suspected as indicating burning of these former structures. The earth resistance survey also detected anomalous activity in the area of the presumed buildings and the results suggest substantial structures with stone or brick foundations/floors - compatible with the interpretation of the magnetometer survey. Additional information on the form, structure and origin of the probable entrances through the south and east sections of the perimeter earthworks of the Camp was obtained by means of further more limited areas of targeted earth resistance survey (S8).