Monument record 0044403000 - CHURCH CLOSE

Dimensions - Length 40m.
FRAGMENT OF A HOMESTEAD MOAT. ONLY NW & PART OF SW ARMS REMAIN. THEY ARE WATERFILLED WITH A MAX DEPTH OF 0.9M & MAX WIDTH OF 16M. THE ISLAND IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE SURROUNDING AREA BUT NO TRACE OF A BUILDING WAS FOUND. THERE IS NO OUTLET BUT AN INLET CAN BE SEEN IN THE SW CORNER (B6).

A possible medieval and/or post medieval fragmentary moat ditch 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 a close about 109 metres SE of St Marys church and centred at SP 71763 17069, an L-shaped ditch is between 5 and 8 metres wide: the NW facing long side is about 40 metres aligned SW-NE and at the SW end it turns 90 degrees SE for 16.5 metres. An irregularly shaped earthwork mound is sited along the inside of the L. On aerial photographs taken in 2023 and recent remote sensing data, the earthworks remain visible but there is no evidence of any further sides of the moat (7-8 ).