Untitled - Council for British Archaeology

About the middle of the 18th Century the remains of the chapel were
only just visible and no reference was made as to their exact whereabouts.
But the site is fixed by tradition to where three fir trees grew. These
have, for many years been uprooted, but are known to have stood immediately
to the south of the farm buildings. The three-sided rectangular earthwork
In this position may, therefore be interpreted as this chapel.
All of the earthworks seem to be contemporary. The alignment of the
village isdictated by the natural topography, as is specifically apparent
by the different alignment of the earthworks in the centre of the village.
Having dictated natural-boundaries between the northern, central and
southern portions of the village, the topography may then have been the
significant factor in determining thé three areas of land-which were under
different ownership.
The Victoria County History: Buckinghamshire refers to a 'mill in
Littlecote' in 1249. A windmill is also'shown on two maps of Buckinghamshire,
in 1690 and 1767, but no relevant earthwork can be sited, either
in or around the village. The ponds are extant.
Littlecote is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
With reference to the hachuring on this plan, the actual contour of
the land has been indicated by sigiwing the hachures pointing in the direction
of dip, instead of at right angles from the top of the slope. This
takes nothing away from the drawing as theshortest distance from top to
bottom can still be ascertained, but adds a further dimension in showing
the direction which water would flow, if the surface was on a 'slope, with
out having to resort to sections.
This seems both logical and necessary in enabling a visual interpretation,
although it is realised that it affects a break with tradition.
Therefore any comments are welcomed with reference to this subject.
GERRARDS CROSS, Romano-British Pottery Kiln (SU 99238750), Bambi Stainton,
Secretary, Chess Valley.Archaeological & Historical Society, Christopher.
Stanley, Field Officer, Middle Thames Archaeological Society
The pottery kiln was discovered during landscaping abové a southfacing
hill slope in the garden of 'Springwood', Hedgerley Lane, Gerrards
Cross, along an outcrop of the Reading Beds. The daughter of the owner,
Miss Katharine Barb, rePorted finding Roman pottery to the local paper in
Novedber 1979, and this information was followed up by members of the
Gerrards Cross Historicél Society, the CVAHS and the Middle Thames Archaeological
Society;
Mrs. Stainton and Mr. Stanley visited the site where it was evident
that landscaping was at an advanced stage and was continuing. Blackened
earth with sherds was spread over a wide area and kiln debris was seen in
the spoil heaps from tree planting. Permission was given for them to
carry out a proton-magnetometer survey, assisted by Mr. Ron Hall, of the
limited area available between the plantings, and a number of very well
marked magnetic anomalies was located.
Because of the close proximity of one of these to a newly planted
tree, further permission was very kindly given to carry out a limited
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