Monument record MBC43684 - Probable medieval subrectangular platforms and boundary ditches, Church Farm in Swanbourne

Probable medieval subrectangular platforms and boundary ditches from settlement shrinkage 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 in a field immediately east of Station Road about 135 metres N of Church Farm in Swanbourne and centred at SP 80114 27519, the earthworks extend over an area about 173 metres N-S and 123 metres W-E. The most notable feature is four contiguous slightly subrectangular earthwork platforms or terraces aligned N-S, with a fifth to the west, that descend the north-facing field slope with four scarps. From the south, the enclosures at their widest measure about 25.5 x 24.5, 27 x 11 metres, 32 x 13 metres and 49 x 17.5 metres. To the west of the north-most platform is a fifth rectilinear platform about 12.5 x 14.5 metres. To the east of the platforms is a slightly curvilinear 6 metres wide boundary ditch that extends N-S for 160 metres, extending west from which is connecting ditches that form two rectilinear enclosures, the west-most of which is bound by Station Road and which contains three small subcircular pits in a shallow arc of uncertain date and function, but may be tree throws. At the bottom of the hillslope are two further small and irregularly shaped earthwork platforms adjacent the watercourse (1-2).