Monument record 0227400000 - C250M E OF HULCOTT MOAT

Plan Form - L SHAPED
L-SHAPED PIECE OF WATER & 3 SIDES OF MOAT? NOTED ON OS DRAFT MAP (B1).
VISIT FAILS TO CLARIFY. L-SHAPED FEATURE NOW BROAD DITCH WITH BANK ON E. COULD BE COMPLEX SET OF FISHPONDS (B2).
FIELD KNOWN AS 'FISHERS MEADOW' (B3).
FREE FISHERY MENTIONED 1281 & 1672 (B4).
2 PARALLEL TANKS? PART OF MILL LEAT? (CAS 1979) (SKETCH) (B5).
Copy of Inclosure Award for Bierton & Hulcott shows water features but no award with Inclosure so the features are not described (B6).

Medieval and/or post medieval fishponds 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 about 430 metres ENE of All Saints Church and centred at SP 85733 16790, the earthworks comprise an trapezoidal boundary bank up to 7.5 metres wide, that is 110 metres long WNW-ESE, turning 90 degrees NNW for 83 metres, again turning 90 degrees ENE for 57 metres. The final side is formed by the SW facing earthwork levee of a sinuous (now dry) watercourse extending 675 metres from the surviving part of the watercourse in the SE at Hale Farm and emptying into the Thame in the NNW.The bed is now dry but presumably formerly provided the water to the fishponds. The ponds within the trapezoidal bank are linear and range between 6.5 and 14 metres wide. The outer 2 ponds form an U-shape, within which the ponds form a trapoezoid, which in turn encloses a linear central pond. Each set of ponds are separated by linear earthwork banks. The features may be associated with the large moated site adjacent Manor Farm some 340 metres to the W. On aerial photographs taken in 2023 and recent remote sensing data, the features remain visible (7-11).