Monument record 0093600000 - TO FLAGSTAFF ON BEACON HILL

Summary

Medieval hollow-way recorded in field survey - A possible Medieval terraced way or trackway on Beacon Hill, Chequers. It is 3 metres wide and obliquely descends the hill from the summit to the foot where it merges in with a still-used unmetalled trackway at the northwest corner of Ellesborough Plantation. The terrace has been eroded into a hollow way for most of its length by surface water and traffic.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

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Type and Period (1)

HOLLOW WAY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Description

Dimensions - Length 0240 m Width 0003
"A considerable ditch covered by a bank on the western side" runs up to the flagstaff on Beacon Hill from the direction of Ellesborough. A similar ditch and bank ascends the slope of Combe Hill beyond the valley (B1).
ENGINEERED MEDIEVAL TERRACE WAY DESCENDS STEEP SLOPES FROM SUMMIT TO FOOT WHERE IT MERGES WITH TRACKWAY. ERODED INTO HOLLOW WAY FOR MOST OF LENGTH BY SURFACE WATER & TRAFFIC. BANK POSSIBLY TO PREVENT CATTLE STRAYING. SIMILAR TRACKS ON COOMBE HILL (B2).

Probably the bank and ditch visible on air photographs and extending from approximately (SP 83560625 to SP 83700640) (B5).

An engineered Md terrace way, 3.0m wide, obliquely descends the steep slopes of Beacon Hill from the summit to the foot where it merges in with a still-used unmetalled trackway at the NW corner of Ellesborough Plantation. The terrace has been eroded into a hollow way for most of its length by surface water and traffic.
The low outer bank was probably constructed to prevent stock straying off the track onto the very steep slopes below. Similar tracks are visible on Coombe Hill, three-quarters of a mile to the ENE, and may be found on most chalk downlands (B6).

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 (11)

---SBC17336 Aerial Photograph: 15/07/86. BCM A11/3/13. SP\836064. Yes.
---SBC17425 Aerial Photograph: 01/07/77. BCM A2/25/5. SP\837060. Yes.
---SBC18848 Aerial Photograph: 26/07/48. RAF 296.4168. SP\838063. Yes.
---SBC18851 Aerial Photograph: 26/07/48. RAF 297.4156. SP\841057. Yes.
<1>SBC20350 Bibliographic reference: A Hadrian Allcroft. 1908. Earthwork of England. p412.
<2>SBC10628 Unpublished document: Ordnance Survey Field Investigator. OS RECORD CARD.
<3>SBC12213 Bibliographic reference: PIKE A R, OCT 1979 FIELD VISIT.
<4>SBC19439 Graphic material: Went DA. 1995. MPP compass survey of Beacon Hill.
<5>SBC29076 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1950. RAF 541/479, 3317-18, 7.4.50.
<6>SBC29049 Verbal communication: A S Phillips. 1972. Field Investigator Comments - F1 ASP 24-FEB-72.
<7>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE). Insert 1998.

Location

Grid reference	Centred SP 8363 0632 (140m by 150m)
Civil Parish	ELLESBOROUGH, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire