Monument record 0065300000 - E & W OF HIGH STREET

EXTENSIVE VILLAGE SHRINKAGE. EARTHWORKS VISIBLE ON E & W OF PRESENT HIGH ST. THOSE ON W NOTED 1967 (RECS OF BUCKS 18, 169); AREA RUNS BETWEEN WESTCOTT FARM & ST MARY'S CHURCH & INCLUDES MOAT IN WHITCHURCH CLOSE (CAS 0444)(B1).
SURVEY BY OS FILED (B2).

Extensive medieval and/or post-medieval village shrinkage 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 W and E of High Street in Wescott village, the settlement earthworks extend across an area about 530 metres SW-NE and 670 metres NW-SE.
To the W of the High Street, between St Mary’s Church and Westcott Farm, the earthworks extend across one large field and comprise a series of interconnected rectilinear ditched and banked enclosures, within the NW corner of which are a cluster of earthwork platforms of various shapes and sizes, along with scarp slopes and possible ponds. In the NE corner is the remains of a moat site (MBC1473 / 0044403000). Some of the features visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 are later levelled by residential housing construction along the High Street.
To the E of the High Street, between Haybinders House and Green Lane, the earthworks extend across four closes extends across one large field and comprise a series of interconnected rectilinear ditched and banked enclosures, within which are an aggregation of earthwork platforms, scarps , and a moat or fishpond (MBC1082 / 0033100000).
Further S on the E side of High Street, between Lower Green and High Meadow is an aggregation of at least 16 irregularly shaped earthwork platforms, some of which appear to have been truncated by the former Brill Tramway (7-11).




(Area SP 720169). Uneven ground features visible on Aps (B8).
The extant of the medieval village of Westcott is clearly defined within extensive rig and furrow. The only surviving portion of house steads and trackways which is not covered by modern development is visible in a pasture field centred SP 72051685. These features survive to a height of about 1.0m and also include a 17th century
cottage. See photos. The shrinkage occupies about 3.0 acres. Planning permission (for housing) has been applied for within this area. Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM (B12).
No change since report of 16.10.73 (B13)

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