Monument record MBC44923 - probable medieval and/or post-medieval pillow mounds, Dropshort Farm

A cluster of nine probable medieval and/or post-medieval pillow mounds 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 east of Dropshort Farm within the former grounds of Biddlesden Park and centred at SP 62610 39328, The pillow mounds are scattered across an area about 240 metres SW-NE and 370 metres NW-SE, but 7 are concentrated within one field. The pillow mounds are linear and pill- shaped, with parallel sides and rounded ends. Three are aligned with their long sides NNW-SSE and measure about 39 x 11 metres, 21.5 x 9 metres and 35.5 x 11 metres. The remaining 6 mounds are aligned with long sides roughly WSW-ENE to SW-NE: 2 are 35 x 10.5 metres, 36 x 8 metres, 38 x 11 metres, 17.5 x 10 metres and 84 x 15 metres. It is notable that the all the mounds lie within blocks of medieval and/or post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation earthworks, with those aligned WSW-ENE are perpendicular with the cultivation earthworks and appear to underlie it: whereas those aligned roughly NNW-SSE appear to be located along the cultivation ridges, possibly suggesting phases of use. A rabbit warren is documented in this area in the 17th century (1-7).