Monument record MBC47227 - BURCOTT HOUSE DITCHES, PATHS AND POND

Probable medieval and/or post-medieval ditches, boundaries, paths or tracks and ponds are visible on historic aerial photographs and remote sensing data as earthworks and were mapped as part of the Aylesbury Vale Aerial Investigation and Mapping project (EBC18604). Located in fields west of Burcott and centred at SP 87918 23252, the earthworks extend across an area about 415 metres N-S and 180 metres W-E. The main features are two subrectangular and one L-shaped ditches, all of which are shown on the 1880 dated 1st Edition OS map adjacent Burcott Cottage (now Burcott Lodge). The function and origin of these are unclear but may be medieval/post-medieval ponds or fishponds, or post-medieval landscape garden features (See HER record 0110602000 / MBC21881). To the N, S and W of these are a complex of interconnecting linear and curvilinear ditches, some of which are, or are likely to be, field boundaries. However, some ditches appear to be a drainage system that links to two large interconnected rectangular ditches or ponds adjacent the old footbridge over the watercourse that are not shown on OS maps. At least two fragmentary curvilinear ditches appear to represent paths or trackways, whilst other appear to form boundaries to fragmentary enclosures. On aerial photographs taken in 2015 and recent remote sensing data, many of these features remain extant (1-5).