Maids Moreton - the friendly village

On 26th April a small group of AAG members visited the 'mound' in Maids Moreton where 2 trial trenches were excavated last year.
The mound is a 2m high square based platform surrounded by a ditch. But what was it?



Susan, Lyn and Steven (who owns the mound) did a splendid job in bringing us up to speed with the results. I won't go into details because there is an exhibition on the dig in The Old Gaol Museum in Buckingham at the moment. Well worth a visit!




I will tantalise you that they discovered over 480 pieces of pot. 80% of which dated from 11th/12th century.


And numerous small finds including medieval worked bone.

But the question still remains - what was the purpose of the mound? 

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Mud, mud, glorious mud at Stowe Landscape Gardens

On 6th May 5 intrepid ladies in various shades of wellingtons ventured into the Elysian Fields in Stowe Landscape Gardens. Armed with trowels and under the expert and tender guidance of Gary Marshall, National Trust archaeologist we helped to investigate a potential pool where the linear lake feeds the Octagon Lake. The Trust had been trying to clear away some of the steep side banks with a digger and had uncovered masonry blocks. As the site was steep, wet and small, Gary needed only a small group to hand dig and clear the area to find out if the masonry was the edge of small pool.

From the top lake the water came down over some cement blocks into a culvert, then emerged as a small but steady trickle through the arch shown in the picture. The whole of the wall surrounding the arch was covered in ivy and had an interesting pipe going across the wall - feeding what? or taking water where?

The interventions and alterations from its original watercourse over the years included a path between the two lakes - over the arch. So it looked like the area was seriously altered from the original garden plan.

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