Untitled - Council for British Archaeology

105FINSTOCK, Topples - Richard ChambersThe deserted medieval village of Topples (PRN 1208, Centred SP 371165),alias Tapwell, lies in the NW corner of Topples Wood in Finstock parish (Fig.30 ).It was held in the early C14th by Eynsham Abbey and 8 tenants were recordedthere at that time. There were still two houses there in the time ofElizabeth I although nothing remains today. The name survives in Topples Laneand Wood (K.J.A. Allison, M.W. Beresford, J.G. Hurst, The Deserted MedievalVillages of Oxfordshire (1965). The village is twice mentioned in Lay taxreturns, in 1306 and again in 1316. The most detailed tax assessment forOxfordshire at this period was in 1327 by which time Topples appears to havedeclined beyond mention.Part of the site of this village is clearly shown by a group of wellpronounced earthworks. The earthworks represent tumbled, stone walled buildingswith two clearly defined yard areas A & B, which have yielded surfacefinds of medieval pottery. There are several deep hollows probably smallquarries for the underlying limestone. A boundary ditch on the NE side alsoappears to have been used as a quarry.To the E of his complex the woodland floor suggests several low buildingplatforms. These proved impossible to plot in the thick, overgrown coppicewood and woodland clearance machinery preceding re-planting has obliteratedlow platforms entirely.Topples Lane appears to owe its shape to the village around which itskirts. 0.5km. to the W the lane meets a short section of terraced trackwayleading uphill in the direction of Topples Wood. To the E, Topples Lanebranched NE to the river where it ends as a hollow way under the railway line.At this junction with Topples Lane are the remains of two rectangular enclosures(0.S. 6" map) and a recently demolished building. The lane to the NEhas nowbeen ploughed revealing much C19th and C2Oth domestic refuse.: \ I,NN 1 11- -.. ;...... - .._ q - 111111/ 111-;,/lir t I I.._;:,IilliiiIIPmi."""'firr T:-:.-...m..-B....,...5-* , 5: 7/ , 1 \5-"i I 1.. -