Monument record 0008102000 - WOOD END, LT HORWOOD

Summary

Medieval to post-medieval moat recorded in field survey and trial trenching. The moat averages 11 metrs wide and 1 metre deep and fed by a narrow channel whis enters at iss northern corner. The moat encloses an island 44 by 52 metres raised 0.4 meters high. The manor house stood on the island and was probably Medieval in origin. It was demolished around the turn of the century. Scheduled.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Scheduled Monument 1018668: MOATED SITE 200M NORTH EAST OF ST NICHOLAS'S CHURCH (DBC7118)

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Type and Period (2)

  • MOAT (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD)
  • WATER CHANNEL (Medieval to Post-Medieval - 1066 AD to 1798 AD)

Description

Dimensions - Length 80m, Width 70m.
Plan Form - Rectangular.
Moat, waterfilled 1972. Encloses c.0.3 acres. Trial trench dug 1972 (B6).
Fed by stream on N (B7 - survey, filed). Marked on map 1825 (B1).
Mansion/farmhouse on island 1862 (B2); gone by 1927 (B5).
Evidence of occupation before farmhouse (B6).
Sketch; NGR to moat centre (B6).
Scheduled: SAM 32108 (B9).

A moat and water channel of medieval date are visible on historic aerial photographs and remote sensing data as earthworks and were mapped as part of the North Buckinghamshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18304). Located at Wood End, Little Horwood and centred at SP 479242 230906. Subrectangular moat (77x77m) with ditches of 12-23m wide visible on lidar visualisation; south west corner is slightly elongated where the waterchannel exits and the water inlet is on the north west corner. The line of the water channel is along an alluvium deposit. Earthworks of water channels and possible former fishponds are visible to the north and east (see MBC43985) with plot boundaries nearby (see MBC43984). Part of a larger area of settlement at Wood End, visible on 1813 map of the area. (10-13).



(SP 79283092) Moat (NR) (B14).
Homestead moat at Wood End, 200 yds NE of the church (B4).
The site was occupied by Moat Farm until c 1906 (3). A trial trench dug by Buckingham Archaeological Society revealed evidence of occupation previous to the farm structure (B6).
A homestead moat measuring overall c 76.0m NE-SW by c 70.0m transversely, with arms c 14.0 average width. The scrub-covered interior is level and much tile and building material is evident in rabbit scrapes. The entrance was probably in the SE side. The moat was subsequently utilised as a supply pond for a water mill of which a semi-circle of post-Tudor brickwork survives at SP 79223091. The water level was maintained by a sluice which is now broken, draining the moat. Re-surveyed at 1:2500. (B15).
NRHE insert 1999 (B16).

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

Sources (16)

  • <1>SBC1967 Map: Andrew Bryant. 1825. Map of the County of Buckinghamshire. Printed map. Linen. 1.5 inches:1 mile.
  • <2>SBC19727 Bibliographic reference: James Joseph Sheahan. 1862. History and Topography of Buckinghamshire. p692.
  • <3>SBC1984 Article in serial: BUCKINGHAM EXPRESS 8TH APRIL 1889; 'NOTES ON NEWS'.
  • <4>SBC20467 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commision on Historical Monuments. 1913. Historical Monuments in Buckinghamshire. Volume 2. p176.
  • <5>SBC20462 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1925. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume III. Volume 3. p377.
  • <6>SBC2115 Verbal communication: BULL E J 1972 PERS COMM (FOLLOWING TRIAL TRENCH, DUG BY BUCKINGHAM ARCH SOC (P HINSON & E J BULL)).
  • <7>XYSBC10718 Bibliographic reference: OS RECORD CARD SP 73 SE 3 (FILED; HAS SURVEY MADE APRIL 1974). [Mapped feature: #1137 ]
  • <8>SBC12376 Bibliographic reference: POSSE COMITATUS 1798 (AT BRO; REF L/P/15&16).
  • <9>SBC13952 Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1999. SCHEDULING LIST OF INSPECTORATE OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS.
  • <10>SBC25885 Aerial Photograph: Historic England. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/2097 RP 3124 28-May-1947.
  • <11>SBC25062 Digital archive: Environment Agency. Environment Agency LiDAR data. LIDAR SP7930 Environment Agency 1m DTM Composite 2021 date accessed 18-May-2022.
  • <12>SBC25062 Digital archive: Environment Agency. Environment Agency LiDAR data. LIDAR SP7931 Environment Agency 1m DTM Composite 2021 date accessed 18-May-2022.
  • <13>SBC25625 Digital archive: Wikimedia. 2024. Boyce. 1813. Ordnance Survey Drawing: Winslow OSD 231 No 11 (1:31680 scale).
  • <14>SBC27494 Verbal communication: J R Linge. 1974. Field Investigators Comments- F1 JRL 16-AUG-74.
  • <15>SBC29001 Verbal communication: N K Blood. 1974. Field Investigator Comments - F1 NKB 03-MAY-74.
  • <16>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

Location

Grid reference Centred SP 79274 30935 (109m by 94m) (2 map features)
Civil Parish LITTLE HORWOOD, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Event - Survey: Aerial investigation and mapping project (Ref: 7768) (EBC18304)
  • Event - Intervention: Excavation: Little Horwood Moat (EBC1167)
  • Event - Survey: Topographic earthwork survey (EBC1059)

Record last edited

Jan 28 2026 3:46PM

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