CROW CLOSE
TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY
The topographical survey was carried out in March 2005 by Dr Kate Strange of 3D Laser Mapping using a Riegl 3D Imaging Sensor LMS-Z210. This is a high performance long-range 3D laser scanner linked to a high-resolution digital camera. The data were processed using RiSCAN PRO software, which offers a range of outputs. The one thought to provide the most useful information is a grey-scale intensity view, which produces an image that simulates a scale-true air photograph. It has been fitted to the Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 topographic map (Figure 2).Several air photographs of Crow Close were taken in the late 1950s, showing the earthworks in various degrees of detail. Many of the features have become degraded with time and it is useful to compare the laser image with the air photographs (Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5) and the air photographs with each other.
Despite the degradation of the features in the field the laser image shows the main features well. Three hollow ways are evident meeting in a confused area in the middle of the field. The east-west hollow way is a continuation of roads and tracks that lead from the present-day parish church. The two that are approximately north-south are confined to within the field. A number of rectangular closes marked by ditched boundaries are arranged more or less at right angles to the hollow ways. There is one central triangular field with a small irregular shaped area bounded by a hollow way and ditched boundaries to the east of it. The close in the north east of Crow Close is divided into six rectilinear land parcels by boundaries that appear different from the others. Ridge and furrow is clearly illustrated. In most of the small fields it is approximately parallel to the ditched boundaries, but the northern boundary of the SE corner close appears to intersect the ridge and furrow. Two large, rectangular structures that appear to be the remains of large buildings are visible and there are several small rectangular structures, which may also be the remains of buildings. There are various other features along the hollow ways and in the central area that are difficult to identify. Abutting the southern boundary of the playground is a circular structure with a perfectly straight lineament projecting south-westwards from it. To the south of it, on the edge of the hollow way is another smaller, circular structure.
Among the air photographs the view from the north east (Figure 3) shows the earthworks most clearly. This image has been modified to reduce contrast and is the only one that shows ridge and furrow in the eastern part of the field. The most striking view is from the east (Figure 4), which has been manipulated to increase contrast. Here, a group of seven ring structures is seen at the western end of the field. The one on the far right (north), which has a white central area, is known to have been a pond. Of the remaining six only two were picked up on the laser survey, leaving the rest unexplained. Viewed from the west (Figure 5), two more circular structures are visible on either side of the hedge that separates Crow Close from what is now the playing field of Carnarvon School. The cluster at the western end of Crow Close is not so clearly visible on this view except for the two circular features that were picked up on the topographical survey. Compared with the available air photographs, the laser image shows all the major structural elements. They are, however, less clearly defined, almost certainly because of degradation during the time interval since the pictures were taken.