Monument record 0058900000 - EVERSHAW FARM

Summary

Earthworks of a deserted medieval settlement seen on aerial photographs and presence suggested by historical records. Recorded in Domesday Book.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Archaeological Notification Area: Earthworks of Medieval deserted village of Evershaw (DBC8784)
  • SHINE: Medieval village earthworks at Evershaw Farm and adjacent ridge and furrow earthworks (DBC7433)

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Type and Period (5)

  • DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1798 AD?)
  • BANK (EARTHWORK) (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)
  • SCARP (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)
  • BOUNDARY DITCH (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)
  • DITCH (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)

Description

AP & FIELD VISIT SUGGEST VILLAGE SITE MAY BE IN 2 FIELDS SE OF FARMHOUSE; HOUSE PLATFORMS SEEN IN FIELD E OF FARM (B8).
NGR TO CENTRE OF AREA (B7).
C13 & EARLIER REFS TO VILLAGE, CHAPEL, WINDMILL OF EVERSHAW (B5).
3-4 HOUSES IN 1755; NOW ONLY THE NAME OF THE FARM & ADJOINING LANDS (B4).
A cripple holds Evershaw from the King in alms for 1 hide. Land for 2 ploughs; they are there, with 2 villagers. The value is and always was 20s. He also held before 1066 (B10).

Part of a probable medieval deserted settlement is visible on remote sensing data as earthworks and was mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located in a field immediately adjacent Evershaw Farm and centred at SP 63644 38311, the earthworks comprise several contiguous rectilinear platforms defined by a number of linear scarps or parallel and perpendicular earthworks banks. None of these earthwork features are clearly visible on historic aerial photographs taken in the 1940s (B11).


(SP 636 384) Village (NR) (Site of). Evershaw Farm (NAT) (B12).
"SP 636 384. Evershaw. DMV said to have been a separate parish till 15th c. Upper and Lower Chapel farm recall the former chapel of St Nicholas" (B13).
3 or 4 houses stood at a village called Eversaw (Evershaw) where tradition sites a Chapel of St Nicholas in an orchard near the "principle" house. This chapel, given to Luffield Priory c AD 1180 was supposed by Browne Willis to have been demolished soon after AD 1551; he saw no trace of it prior to 1755 (B1).
Vague bumps making no certain pattern; or church ruins (?). Probably deserted c 1350-1450 (B14).
The edge of the Rig & Furrow indicates that this must have been a small hamlet site (B15).
No surface indications of desertion are visible in this area and local enquiry revealed no knowledge of an early chapel (B16).

Sources (18)

  • ---SBC18812 Aerial Photograph: 11/10/46. RAF 20.4189. SP\640370. Yes.
  • <1>SBC16730 Bibliographic reference: Browne Willis. 1755. The History and Antiquities of the Town, Hundred and Deanry of Buckingham. p156.
  • <2>SBC6914 Article in serial: Rev W Hastings Kelke. 1855. 'THE DESECRATED CHURCHES OF BUCKINGHAMSHIRE - PART 2: DEANERY OF BUCKINGHAM', IN RECS OF BUCKS 1 PP81-85. Vol 1, part 3.
  • <3>SBC19727 Bibliographic reference: James Joseph Sheahan. 1862. History and Topography of Buckinghamshire. p265.
  • <4>SBC20463 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1927. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume IV. Volume 4. pp155-156.
  • <5>SBC4587 Bibliographic reference: ELVEY GR (ED) 1968 LUFFIELD PRIORY CHARTERS PTS I &II IN BUCKSRECSOCISP41FF;197518PPLIV,120,122,136.
  • <6>SBC1663 Bibliographic reference: BERESFORD MW & HURST JG 1971 DESERTED MEDIEVAL VIL LAGES P 184; MVRG RECORD CARD (FILED).
  • <7>SBC10628 Unpublished document: Ordnance Survey Field Investigator. OS RECORD CARD.
  • <8>SBC12474 Aerial Photograph: RAF 541 Squadron. 1946. RAF Vertical Aerial Photograph, 1946: Run 20, frame 4189. Yes.
  • <9>SBC6884 Bibliographic reference: KEALEY EJ ? HARVESTING THE AIR; WINDMILL PIONEERS IN C12 ENGLAND PP214-5 (PHOTOCOPY IN CAS FILE).
  • <10>SBC4271 Bibliographic reference: John Morris (ed). 1978. Domesday Book: Buckinghamshire. 57:6.
  • <11>SBC25062 Digital archive: Environment Agency. Environment Agency LiDAR data. LIDAR SP63NW Environment Agency National LIDAR Programme DTM 1 Metre dated 2019 SP6338.
  • <12>SBC28494 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1958. OS 6" 1958.
  • <13>SBC1648 Bibliographic reference: M W Beresford. 1954. The Lost Villages of England, 1954.
  • <14>SBC28532 Unpublished document: 1957. Deserted Medieval Village Research Group, 5th Annual Report, Appendix C, 1957.
  • <15>SBC28666 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF UK 1929 1217-8 Jan 1947.
  • <16>SBC28610 Verbal communication: James Baird. 1973. Field Investigators Comments - F1 JB 15-OCT-73.
  • <17>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

Location

Grid reference SP 63600 38300 (point)
Civil Parish BIDDLESDEN, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (6)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Event - Survey: (EBC13272)
  • Event - Survey: (EBC13986)
  • Event - Survey: Aerial investigation and mapping project (Ref: 7768) (EBC18304)

Record last edited

Dec 18 2025 3:34PM

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