Monument record 0104000000 - LOWER BURSTON FARM

SAM 29401. Very clear site, one of the best in S England. Pattern of sunken roads & house enclosures. Description (B10).
Description, discussion, plans (B11).
Description, survey, photos &C (B12).
NGR to centre of DMV & park (B9).
MPP Fieldworker site visit and survey (B15).

A medieval deserted settlement of Burston 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 about 400 metres SE of Lower Burston Farm and centred at SP 84158 18856, the settlement earthworks are contained within a single pasture field between Lower Burston Farm and a small tributary of the Thistle Brook and extend about 320 metres W-E and 390 metres N-S, covering an area of about 94,500 square metres. A broad hollow way extends from the NW corner in a SE direction, before turning S. Other linear interconnected trackways and boundary ditches branch off this W and E through the settlement, forming a system of roughly rectilinear enclosures or tofts, within which are earthworks platforms and earthwork banks, slopes and scarps, some of which would be the remains of former buildings. In the SE corner, two opposing cone or pizza slice-shaped earthworks on either side of the watercourse might be the remains of a bridge ramp. Within the settlement are two small blocks of ridge and furrow cultivation (18-23).




SP 842 188 Burston deserted medieval village, has a good pattern of roads and crofts but no house sites are visible. The period of desertion c1450-1700 was due to enclosure. Shirley states that a park was noticed by Saxton and mentioned by Leland. A royal licence to empark lands in the manor of Burston was granted in 1526. Lower Burston House is mid 19th century. SP 8415 1885 A deserted medieval village situated in permanent pasture, comprising a well-defined pattern of holloways and enclosures. No house steads can be identified. The village is surrounded by ridge and furrow. It is possible that the village was deserted when Burston was emparked in 1526. There is no ground evidence of a pale. Lower Burston House is mainly Tudor with 19th century additions on the north side. The extant earthworks are extensive and occupy about 23.0 acres; topographically the village lies in a sheltered valley overlooked by a high ridge to the north. Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. No remains are evidence at the published site (B10, B17, B24, B25, B26, B27, and B28).
No change to report of 12.10.73. AM survey correct (B29).
A rapid examination of air phoptography (10a) shows the earthworks of the deserted village (B30).

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