Monument record 0058311000 - Chucksell's Spinney, Ascott

Archaeological survey of National Trust land in 1989 at Ascott records the surviving remains of the late 19th century estate water works which was in use until the estate was connected to the mains supply. The water pumping and treatment house survives with many of the internal fittings. A Crossley gas engine originally with two fly wheels powered the pumps and machinery, with water being pumped from an internal well, through water softening vessels and up to a large storage tank in the tower at the kennels. The original gas engine was probably replaced by an electric motor, which does not survive. See report for further information, sketch plan and photo (B6).

A late 19th century and 20th century waterworks is visible on historic aerial photographs, documentary evidence and remote sensing data and was mapped as part of the Aylesbury Vale Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18604). Located in Chucksell’s Spinney about 920 metres SE of Ascott House and centred at SP 89943 22228, the waterworks is not recorded on the 1st edition OS map dated 1880. However, by the 1899 dated OS 2nd Edition map, a L-shaped building has been constructed that remains extant in 2022. Aerial photographs taken in 1944 show that the L shaped building has a dual pitched roof, being about 10 metres NW-SE and 8.5-11 metres SW-NE. Immediately to its SE is a second rectangular building or structure of uncertain function, about 6.3 x 4.5 metres. By 1944 this appears to have replaced an earlier circular structure at the same location that was recorded on the 2nd Edition OS map. On aerial photographs taken in 2022, the buildings remain under the tree canopy of the spinney and are not visible. However, recent remote sensing data indicates that the building/structure remains extant in 2020-2021 (7-12).