Data from a Trial Trenching at Bury Farm, South Heath, Buckinghamshire, 2018-2021 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., MOLA Headland Infrastructure, 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1126695. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © High Speed Two Ltd. unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4601
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1126695
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises of images, CAD, spreadsheet and site record data from a trial trenching at bury farm, South Heath, Buckinghamshire, 2018-2021.
Project Summary
A trial trench evaluation was conducted at Bury Farm, Potter Row, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire in advance of construction of an ecological habitat mitigation site, associated with the enabling works for Phase 1 of the HS2 London to West Midlands high speed rail link. The site is located within the Potters Row Archaeological Notification Area (ANA) defined by Buckinghamshire County Council due to the finds of medieval pottery in the area between Frith Hill and Hammondshall Farm. The site also lies adjacent to the medieval homestead moat at Bury Farm to the northeast and the earthwork remains of a medieval motte and bailey within the Jenkins Wood Ancient Woodland to the northwest. Trial trenching was required to identify the location, extent, survival, and significance of any heritage assets within the site. The site encompasses a single field comprising approximately 1.8 ha of pasture.
A total of four trial trenches were excavated under constant archaeological direction using a toothless ditching bucket. Slight variations in soil profile were noted across the site. Occasional small fragments of ceramic building material were present in the topsoil, none of them earlier than the post-medieval period. All trenches contained the remains of modern services laid by the landowner, most were not excavated as they were cut from the topsoil and into the natural geology except for the feature in Trench 004, as it was not clear initially where it had been cut from. Trenches 001 and 004 were archaeologically sterile. Archaeological features were instead recorded in Trenches 002 (20.30mx2.20mx0.38m) and 003 (29.62mx2.20mx0.30m), both aligned north to south. In both cases the lowest deposit was the natural substrate. These features were broadly dated to medieval and post-medieval period from finds such as a fragment of a 13th-14th century pottery and a post-medieval peg tile. Considering the limited evidence, little can be added about them. They do not appear to form part of any coherent settlement or agricultural activity. There is little evidence for a connection with the nearby medieval sites, but this cannot be entirely discounted.
Re-Use Value Statement
This archive can be used independently and/or in in conjunction with the rest of HS2 datasets in order to inform the archaeological features and periods unearthed on this route as interpretations of landscape archaeology. This can also function as a guide to digital archiving for future infrastructure projects benefiting both the commercial sector and the research community.
