Medieval fishpond and enclosures, north-west of Elwick Hall

Despite being relatively common, fishponds are important for their associations with other classes of medieval monument and in providing evidence of site economy.....The fishpond near Elwick Hall is well preserved and retains significant archaeological deposits. Taken with the adjacent enclosures and a section of the surrounding open field system, it will add greatly to our knowledge of medieval settlement and economy in this region.

The monument includes the remains of a fishpond, two enclosures and a section of open field system of medieval date. These features were situated to the north west of the medieval village of Elwick with which they are associated. Elwick has remained in occupation to the present day; this continued occupation has obscured further evidence of the medieval settlement.

The fishpond, which is sub-rectangular in shape, is visible as a large depression up to 1m deep. At its north western corner there are two roughly circular islands used for fishing or wildfowl management purposes. Part of the water management system associated with the pond is visible at its southern end; here the pond narrows into a channel comprising three straight sections with two right-angled bends; this arm of the pond formed part of the inlet/outlet channel through which water was fed to the pond, controlled by a series of sluice gates.

The pond is flanked on the east by an earthen bank and on the north and west by an earthen bank and an outer ditch which separates the pond from the surrounding ridge and furrow. Also on the eastern side there is a small enclosure attached to the outside of the bank. Both of these features overlie medieval ridge and furrow, indicating that at least this part of the area was under the plough when the fishpond was constructed.

At the south end of the first section of channel, a trackway leads eastwards in the direction of the present 18th-century Elwick Hall. Immediately to the north of the trackway are the earthwork remains of a roughly rectangular enclosure, containing at its north eastern corner a square platform interpreted as the base of a former building. It is thought that these enclosures are associated with the former medieval Elwick Hall.

A World War II pill box is situated to the east of the fishponds and is included in the scheduling.