Monument record 0015900000 - THE WILDERNESS, MUSWELL HILL

Summary

Earthwork enclosure of uncertain date known from field survey - The Wilderness `U' enclosure

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

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Type and Period (2)

SQUARE ENCLOSURE (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)

Description

Dimensions - Length 78m, Length 72m.
Plan Form - Square.
SOME RAMPARTS OF EARTH, PART OF AN OBLONG SQUARE ENTRENCHMENT, ABOUT 100 YARDS N-S AND 80 FROM E-W, CONJECTURED TO HAVE BEEN A SUMMER CAMP OF THE ROMANS, BUT OF WHICH NO ACCOUNT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN PRESERVED. BANKS ARE 10 YARDS IN WIDTH AND 3 IN HEIGHT ON THE E SIDE (BEING PART OF COUNTY BOUNDARY LINE) AND ENCLOSING AN AREA NOW CALLED THE BOWLING-GREEN IN WHICH ARE MANY FINE LARGE SYCAMORE TREES OF GREAT AGE: BUT ALL TRACES OF THE OUTWORKS HAVE BEEN OBLITERATED BY THE PLOUGH (B1).
SPOT NOW CALLED THE WILDERNESS (B2).
IN PLAN ALMOST AN EXACT SQUARE OF 90 YARDS, LEVEL AREA IS SURROUNDED BY A MASSIVE BANK, 30FT BROAD AT BASE AND RAISED 4-5FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. IF WORK WAS MEDIEVAL ONE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE UNMISTAKABLE SIGNS OF AN EXTERIOR DITCH OR MOAT, BUT IF NOT MEDIEVAL, IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN EXTRAORDINARY STATE OF PRESERVATION. NO PARTICULAR REASON TO CALL IT ROMAN - AREA TOO SMALL FOR A PERMANENT STATION. [PLAN](B3).
SQUARE ENTRENCHMENT DESCRIBED AS A 'ROMAN CAMP' (B4,B7).
SQUARE ENCLOSURE, SIDES C70 YARDS LONG, NEAR SUMMIT OF HILL, BUT COMMANDED BY HIGHER GROUND ON S SIDE. DEFINED BY FLAT-TOPPED BANK RISING 4FT ABOVE INTERIOR LEVEL, & TRACES OF OUTSIDE DITCH. GAPS IN MIDDLE OF E & W SIDES PROBABLY ORIGINAL (B5).
PARTLY TREE-COVERED IN 1961 (B6).

(SP 64171551) The Wilderness (NAT) (B8).

On the OS 25" 1899, 'The Wilderness" was described as 'Roman Camp' (supposed site of), but in the ONB revision 1919 this was changed to 'Earthwork' and authorised by the AO (B9).

An earthwork enclosing an area of 0.6 hectares is situated on a shelf on the north slope of Muswell Hill, the south side of which is cut into the hillslope. The banks are 1.8 m high and 7.5 m wide and the only ditch on the west side, is 4.0 m wide and 0.3 m deep. Its date and purpose are uncertain. It is still known as 'The Wilderness'. Surveyed at 1:2500 on PFD (B10).

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

Sources (12)

---SBC21506 Aerial Photograph: BCM (Michael Farley). 1990. 1990 BCM (Michael Farley) Oblique AP. SP64271560. Yes.
<1>SBC26951 Bibliographic reference: George Lipscomb. 1847. The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham (Volume 1). Volume 1. p106.
<2>SBC19727 Bibliographic reference: James Joseph Sheahan. 1862. History and Topography of Buckinghamshire. p343.
<3>SBC305 Bibliographic reference: ALLCROFT HA 1908 EARTHWORK OF ENGLAND PP313-315.
<4>SBC20461 Bibliographic reference: William Page (ed). 1908. A History of Buckinghamshire (Victoria County History) Volume II. Volume 2. p5.
<5>SBC14981 Bibliographic reference: SUTTON JEG 1966 (IN OXONIENSIA XXXI P38).
<6>SBC11460 Unpublished document: Oxfordshire County Council. OXFORDSHIRE CC PRN 5308 (FILED) ALSO ON FILE- PHOTOS.
<7>SBC15380 Bibliographic reference: 1907. Vicotria County History OXON 2. p319.
<8>SBC28521 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1955. OS 6" 1955.
<9>SBC28522 Unpublished document: Ordnance Survey. 1919. Ordnance Survey Object Name Book, Oxon 28 SE, 1919.
<10>SBC28523 Verbal communication: Nicholas J Attrill. 1977. Field Investigators Comments - F1 NJA 10-FEB-77.
<11>SBC27441 Digital archive: Historic England. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

Location

Grid reference	Centred SP 6416 1551 (90m by 100m)
Civil Parish	BRILL, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire