Monument record MBC47754 - MEDIEVAL / POST MEDIEVAL BOUNDARIES AND DRAINS, WILLOW BANK FARM

A complex of medieval field boundaries and post medieval (possibly 19th century) drainage ditches 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 in meadows adjacent an meandering stream about 550 metres SW of Willow Brook Farm and centred at SP 82690 20594, the extensive interconnecting ditch system extends SSW from Bushmead Road for about 800 metres about, covering several fields on the W side of the watercourse and in the small meadow adjacent the farm on its E side. In the latter the 1813 Ordnance Surveyors Drawing indicates a former field boundary at that location which is no longer recorded on the 1880s dated 1st Edition OS map. To the W of the stream is a system of linear and curving interconnected ditches that appear to be draining the meadowland into the stream. To the S of the system are two slightly wider sinuous ditches that appear to be pre-enclosure field boundaries that have been reused and integrated into the later drainage. None of the fields appear to have medieval/post medieval ridge and furrow cultivation. Also within the system adjacent an old field boundary are three circular hollows of various sizes. Whether natural or man-made ponds as part of the water management is unclear. On aerial photographs taken in 2022 and recent remote sensing data, the features remain visible (1-5).