Wavendon

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameWavendon
Alternative Names
Historic CountryBuckinghamshire
Modern AuthorityMilton Keynes
1974 AuthorityBuckinghamshire
Civil ParishWavendon

Probably windmill stance. A turf covered mound situated in a level field under permanent pasture, contiguous with rig and furrow. It is flat topped, 2.4m high, bounded by a dry ditch, 0.6m deep, and measures circa 30.0m overall diameter. The ditch is mutilated by cattle tread on the West side, and a causeway crosses on the south side to form an inclined ramp to the summit. It is suggested that the site may be a motte or adulterine castle, apparently abandoned in C13. (PastScape)

A bowl barrow, 60 ft in diameter and 7 ft high, surrounded by a ditch which is crossed by a causeway on the S. (RCHME) Excavated by R W Griffiths in 1963 and found to be a small motte, occupied for a short period, and dismantled in the 13th c. (Griffiths) A turf covered mound situated in a level field under permanent pasture, contiguous with rig and furrow. It is flat topped, 2.4m high, bounded by a dry ditch, 0.6m deep, and measures c 30.0m overall diameter. The ditch is mutilated by cattle tread on the W side, and a causeway crosses on the S side to form an inclined ramp to the summit. There is no trace of Griffiths excavation. There is considerable doubt that this mound is a motte for the following reasons:-

1. Its small size

2. The narrow shallow ditch does not appear defensive

3. A lack of documentary evidence for a defence

4. Existence of a ramp.

Mr D C Mynard state that Griffiths excavation was of a minor nature and inconclusive. To his knowledge no conclusive evidence was found to support classification as a motte. Griffiths has left the area and cannot be contacted. The mound is probably a windmill mound; the inclined ramp supports the supposition. (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Over 800m from church and isolated from medieval settlement or farmstead. Apparently scheduled as a motte and listed by King but almost certainly a mill mound and nothing else based on field investigators comments above and location.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSP919371
Latitude52.0250396728516
Longitude-0.661610007286072
Eastings491930
Northings237140
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of The Thames Valley and The Chilterns (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 37
  • Marney, P.T. and Mynard, D.C., 1989, Roman and Belgic pottery : from excavations in Milton Keynes, 1972-1982 (Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society Monograph 2) p. 313
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 28
  • RCHME, 1913, An inventory of the historical monuments in Buckinghamshire Vol. 2 (north) p. 313 online copy

Journals

  • Griffiths, R.W., 1968, 'Excavations on the mound at Wavendon, September 1963' Journal of Wolverton and District Archaeological Society Vol. 1 p. 29-31