This collection comprises image, spreadsheet and GIS data from a Historic Landscape Recording of land at Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire. COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology undertook the work in 2020.

Project Summary

COPA were commissioned by Fusion to undertake a historic landscape study and setting recording of 139.8 hectares of land at Harwell House, Buckinghamshire. The study area encompasses land within the Hartwell House Grade II* registered park extending to include areas east outside of the park comprising the former Aylesbury Park Golf Course, a sports recreation ground and areas of agricultural land to the west. As well as encompassing the grade II* designated landscape the study area also includes parts of the Hartwell conservation area and includes within its extent several listed buildings. The study area is located immediately adjacent to the grade I listed Hartwell House. The route of HS2 passes through this landscape and construction activities will bring about changes to its character and appearance including the loss of a length of the curtilage listed parkland boundary wall. The study expands upon previous work undertaken in the area and sets out the results of the field study and desk-based research. It provides an account of the development of the landscape at Hartwell House forming the study area and serves as a lasting record of the historic landscape.

This study was undertaken during the period of the Coronavirus pandemic in the autumn 2020. These limitations are identified in Section 3 but are not considered to have affected the efficacy of the work nor the conclusions reached. All appropriate precautions were followed with regard to working safely through the pandemic, including COPA, Fusion, HS2, and Government instructed measures and guidance to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.

Re-use Value

The historic landscape within the study area contains evidence of various forms of land use across multiple periods. These remains are considered to have significant historic, artistic and archaeological interest. The well-preserved state of these feature, their visibility within the landscape and their relationship to one another contributes to the overall significance of the historic landscape allowing this multi-phased landscape to be better understood. Collectively landscape features within the study area are considered to have a meaningful and moderate to high level of significance.

Medieval and post-medieval agricultural activity within the landscape is represented by evidence of ploughing and former field boundaries. Due to the frequency of comparable sites these features are of a local heritage significance. Earthworks of possible house platforms, a moated site and a possible fishpond provide a time depth that contributes to the historic landscape significance of the registered park.

Boundaries and other features of the 18th and 19th century designed landscape are generally of a local heritage significance but their preservation within the parkland and their close artistic or functional association with individual designated assets contribute to the overall values of these assets. The qualities and heritage value of the landscape within the inner park and its contribution to the setting and significance of listed buildings contained within it are of the highest significance. The significance and contribution to setting of areas within the eastern and northern outer park is reduced largely through incorporation within the golf course. The avenue however remains a prominent and significant element of the outer park and a significant part of the setting of Hartwell House.

The documentary archive will be deposited with Discover Bucks Museum.