Monument record 0066603000 - BEACHENDON

Summary

Deserted medieval settlement earthworks recorded in field survey and seen on aerial photographs

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Map

Type and Period (9)

  • DESERTED SETTLEMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • PLATFORM (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)
  • POND (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?)
  • BANK (EARTHWORK) (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)
  • HOLLOW (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)
  • HOLLOW WAY (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)
  • TERRACED GROUND (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD?)

Description

IN LIST OF BUCKS DMV'S (B4).
TRACES OF EARTHWORKS N & E OF FARM; NO CERTAIN ENCLOSURES OR HOUSE PLATFORMS. TRACKWAY RUNS NW FROM FARM (B5).
NO POSITIVE DMV REMAINS AROUND FARM. TO N TERRACING VISIBLE BUT NO REGULAR PATTERN OF MEDIEVAL SETTLEMENT. SOME CROFTS & POSSIBLE STREETS VISIBLE ON APS. NGR (B6).

A medieval/post 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 immediately north, east and south of Beachendon Farm and centred at SP 75953 13628, the earthwork remains comprise a hollow way, a linear ditch up to 12.5 metres wide that extends 140 metres NW from the farm. To the E of this is a linear boundary ditch between 2.5 and 11 metres that encloses the settlement, extending 180 metres SW-NE along the NW facing boundary, before turning 90 degree to the SE for 125 metres along the NE facing boundary and then turning SW for 115 metres along the SE facing boundary. Immediately N of the farm is a large D-shaped platform about 108 x 42 metres at its widest points. To the NE of the farm is a complex of earthwork banks, ditches and hollows that suggest ponds, hollow ways or trackways and boundaries. In the field immediately S of the farm is a number of linear and curving scarp slopes that forms at least 6 variously sized areas of terraced ground or platforms. On aerial photographs taken in 1971, the earthworks remain visible, but by 1978 farm upgrades have commenced and the hollow way, large platform and some boundary ditch has been levelled. The terraces to the S of the farm remain visible in 1978 but by 2003 they appear to have been levelled (7-12).

Sources (10)

  • ---SBC18841 Aerial Photograph: 04/02/48. RAF 280.3018-3019. SP\760139. Yes.
  • <4>SBC1629 Bibliographic reference: BERESFORD M W & HURST J G 1971 DESERTED MEDIEVAL V ILLAGES P183.
  • <5>SBC4965 Verbal communication: FARLEY M E DEC 1971 FIELD VISIT.
  • <6>SBC10921 Bibliographic reference: OS RECORD CARD SP71 SE3,NOV 1972 (FILED).
  • <7>SBC28005 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2025. RAF-CPE-UK-2436 RP 3019 04-FEB-1948.
  • <8>SBC28031 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2025. RAF-58-4655 F42 0009 30-AUG-1961.
  • <9>SBC28032 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2025. OS-71383 V 1072 15-JUL-1971.
  • <10>SBC28033 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 2025. OS-78064 V 033 28-MAY-1978.
  • <11>SBC25062 Digital archive: Environment Agency. Environment Agency LiDAR data. LIDAR SP71SE Environment Agency National LIDAR Programme DTM 1 Metre dated 19-NOV-2019 SP7513.
  • <12>SBC25593 Aerial Photograph: Google Earth. Google Earth Pro. Dated 01-JAN-2003 Accessed online 01-JUL-2025.

Location

Grid reference Centred SP 7592 1362 (260m by 160m)
Civil Parish WADDESDON, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Event - Survey: (EBC1394)
  • Event - Survey: (EBC14171)
  • Event - Survey: Aerial investigation and mapping project (Ref: 9179) (EBC18604)

Record last edited

Aug 29 2025 1:28PM

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