Monument record 0563600000 - WEST WYCOMBE PARK (R.WYE)

1752 MAP MARKS 'FORT & CITADEL', AN ISLAND IN WYE BESIDE OLD LONDON-OXFORD ROAD (TRACING FILED). RESEMBLES TYPICAL CIVIL WAR SCONCE - A SQUARE FEATURE WITH TRIANGULAR PROJECTIONS & A 'TAIL', ALSO WITH PROJECTIONS AT THE SIDES & A POINTED END. GENUINE? (NB PROXIMITY OF ROAD) OR C18 DASHWOOD GARDEN 'FOLLY' FOR MOCK BATTLES ETC? (B1).
ISLAND NOW FEATURELESS. NO INDICATIONS OF FORT (B2).
THOMAS PHILLIBROWN'S DIARY RECORDS A VISIT TO WEST WYCOMBE IN THE 1750S AND DESCRIBES HOW FRANCIS DASHWOOD KEPT A SMALL FLEET OF SHIPS MOORED ON THE LAKE FOR MOCK BATTLES WITH 'A BATTERY OF GUNS IN FORM OF A FORT' (B3).
Several of Dashwood's vessels on the lake, including a modestly sized yacht and what might be described as a 'man-of-war' (said to be of 60 tons), can be seen in William Hannan's paintings of 1752, later engraved by William Woollett. Sir Francis also built himself a small fort and during one battle the fun had to be suspended after one of the captains was hit by a blank round 'which occasion'd him to spit blood and so put an end to the battle' (B4).