A GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY OF THE MEDIEVAL BISHOPS' RESIDENCE AT POTTERNE 



277 



Fig. 3. Shade plot of the resistance data 



but this is more haphazard in appearance and could 

 reflect another rubbly area. East of this is a 

 rectangular high resistance anomaly (C); the 

 dimensions of this roughly match the 17th-century 

 survey of the 'chappell now fitte for a barne', which 

 would have been approximately 24.0 by 7.5m 

 ('about 25 foote and in length about 80 foote'). 

 The orientation of the anomaly fits with its 

 suggested identification as the bishop's chapel. To 

 the west of the high resistance square block is 

 another area on the same alignment of a similar 

 size where moderate resistance readings were 

 obtained (D).This could perhaps have formed part 

 of the original building, but has been more 

 comprehensively robbed of its foundations. To the 

 north of this is what could be a courtyard wall (E) . 

 No obvious structures appear on the other sides of 

 this possible courtyard, suggesting that it was a 

 garden court. Two lines of high resistance cross the 

 courtyard, perhaps delineating paths leading to the 

 nearby well, or possibly post-medieval field drains. 

 Another possible pathway leading towards the well 

 is located to the north of this (F). There is no 

 detached building in evidence that could be 

 identified with the great barn, although this ancillary 

 structure could have been situated to the north of 

 the square block in the more indistinct area of 

 moderately high resistance, or further to the east 

 outside the limits of the survey. 



The survey has not shed any light on the 

 medieval access to the site. No obvious trackway 



Fig. 4. Resistance data superimposed on to Great 

 Orchard (see text for explanation of letters) 



has been revealed by the geophysics. Although the 

 road to Worton runs along the southern side of 

 Great Orchard and there is a marked hollow road 

 way to the west, Plump Lane, access connecting 

 the manor house to either is not forthcoming. The 

 bishop's house could equally have been approached 

 from the village below, from the north or east, but 

 the survey has not revealed a possible gatehouse 



