Monument record 0034500000 - HOGSHAW

S of church site good street pattern of DMV & to E confused earthworks visible on AP. Excellent historical documentation for period of desertion 1450-87. No coherent pattern of a DMV in the vicinity (B10).
Depopulation reported in 1517 as having taken place in 1487 (B9).
Remains of 8 medieval buildings, hearths and a possible kiln revealed as stone walls and spreads of cobbles during watching brief and salvage recording carried out in July 2003 by Archaeological Services and Consultancy on stripping for access road. Buildings appear to be aligned NE-SW and fronting the existing road. Finds recovered include domestic pottery dating from the late 12th or early 13th century to the early 16th century, a spindle whorl, quern and whetstone fragments, iron nails and a possible bracket, a single undated coin and a large ring (?fitting) (B13-14).
Scheduled in June 2013. See Scheduling documents for detail (B15).
Geophysical surveys carried out in February 2015 by Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society's Active Archaeology Group and Chess Valley Archaeological and Historical Society members identified anomalies interpreted as ditches forming right angles to each other in the area assumed to be the main village. The north-south ditch survives as a slight earthwork. See report for detail (B16).

A medieval deserted settlement is visible on historic aerial photographs and remote sensing data as earthworks and was mapped as part of the Aylesbury Vale Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18604). Located in fields SW of Hogshaw Farm and centred at SP 73700 22417, the settlement comprises a moat and platform (Bucks HER No MBC1135/00345030000), from which a leat runs south to connect to a large subrectangular fishpond. About 20 metres east of the moat is a linear ditch about 54 metres SSW-NNE x 7.5 metres WNW-ESE, being parallel to the moat’s eastern arm. Perpendicular to this to the east are three roughly rectangular ditches, 46 x 12 metres, 21 x 12 metres and 22 x 8 metres, all with long sides aligned WNW-ESE (20-22).





(Name at SP 738224) St John the Baptist's Church (NR) (site of) (NAT) (SP 73742258) Moat (NR) (B7).
(SP 73702253) Human Remains found (NAT) (B23).
The church was in use until 1650 when it was damaged during the Civil War, and by the end of the 17th century it was ruinous. Its site is known only approximately, although some 15th century stones, considered to be from the church, are built into a cowshed at Hogshaw Farm. The church foundations were dug up for road-making during the 18th century. Lambourne considers that the 18th century cowshed, which is west of the OS published site, is built on the foundations of the church, and certainly courses of old worked stones are visible in the foundations (B1, B5, B18, B24, B25, B31).
A Commandery of the Knights Hospitallers existed at Hogshaw consisting of a small manor house with court, garden, mill and dove house, and as the chaplain served it, it probably stood close to the church. In 1180, the Sisters of St John Nunnery was moved from Hogshaw to Buckland, the remaining buildings being used by the Hospitallers as a Commandery. The Commandery was dissolved before 1540. According to Lambourne, it is said to have stood within "a large moated enclosure possibly that shown at SP 73742258, which the RCHM describe as a double-moated site. To the south is a deserted medieval village with a good pattern of streets (centred at SP 737224), and to the east (centred SP 738225) are other confused earthworks, all visible on Aps. There is excellent historical documentation with a period of desertion 1450-1700 (B26).
No local knowledge or trace of the Church, or the Commandery. The 18th century barn at SP 73732248 contains stone footings but these do not appear to be in situ.
Only one homestead moat, that published by the OS, is discernible. It measures internally about 52 metres north-south by about 40 metres east-west, with the moat, now dry, averaging about 11 metres in width and 1.4 metres in depth. The enclosed area has been raised and levelled above the surrounding ground level and there is no trace of a structure within. From the south arm a former watercourse extends south to feed two fishponds at SP 73702247, both waterfilled. There is no coherent pattern of a deserted medieval village in the vicinity. There are confused earthworks to the east of the moat which are probably connected with the manorial settlement. There is no further information concerning the "human remains found", this probably refers to the graveyard of the church.
Published survey (25") revised (B27).
No change since report of 23.10.73, AM survey correct. Inspection of OS AP's 76043 234/235 proved negative regarding desertion (B28).
A rapid examination of air photography shows the earthworks of the moated site and DMV (B29 and B30).
The site of medieval church and Preceptory of Knights Hospitallers (founded 1180 dissolved 1470) and nunnery cell of Sisters of St John removed to Buckland Priory in 1180 (B8).
NRHE insert 1997, update 1999, 2000, 2003 (B32).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.