Monument record 0675200000 - Ardenham Hill House, Bicester Road, Aylesbury

Evaluation and subsequent excavation and watching brief carried out by OAU in November 1999 and February 2000 on the site of the former nurses home at Ardenham Hill House identified up to 13 large sub-rectangular pits, probably quarry pits for clay, at the northeastern part of the site (seen in zones 2, 3a and evaluation trench 4). The pits ranged in size from 9m X 3m to 5.5m X 5m and in depth from 0.45m to 1.09m, were steep sided and mostly flat-bottomed and had narrow baulks between them. No traces of weathering were observed and it seems unlikely that the pits were open long before being backfilled. The fills contained redeposited natural with 17th -18th century pottery, tile, brick, undiagnostic clay pipe fragments, and animal bones. Other post-medieval features recorded include a large 19th or 20th century rubbish pit over 3.2m wide and 0.3m deep in evaluation trench 2; 3 17th -19th century ditches and a post hole in evaluation trench 1; 5 19th century ditches, gullies and a trackway with wheel ruts, in zone 3b; and 3 post holes, a possible pit and 3 linear features, possibly plough furrows, in zone 1 (B1-2). NGR to area of quarry pits.