Village Voice Oct / Nov 2019 Issue 194

An earthwork enclosure - covers nearly 4 acres a hi l-top
plateau, with substantial outer bank, i ner ditch and pond. Excavation
of br oches, coins, jars and bowls near the
remnants of imposing south-facing, outwardturning
entrance revealed a Romano-British
se tlement and evidence of iron smelting, perhaps
a continuation of pre-Roman industry. Records of
Bucks 48 (2 08), p.37-53. (See LiDAR image
to right).
An old ho loway, which descends northwards
from the plateau to Deadmans Dean Bo tom.
A banked oval pond - with no obvious entrance so perhaps an
ornamental feature built by Earl Howe after the w od was enclosed in
1855.
The Chalk Track - Map evidence (1875) shows tha this track
was put in after the 18 5 inclosure. 18 inches of excavated chalk
from outside the w od were a ded in 1985 to improve the surface for
vehicles.
A large qua ry, one of seven. Flints, sand and perhaps clay,
were most commonly quarried in the w od. There are also at least a
dozen 19th century saw pit spread throughou the wood.
A double bank and ditch ru ning
north from the main gate to
Ho loway. There are
numerous old trackways and
small banked boundaries elsewhere in the w od.
Lynchets or te races
in the fields to the NE of
Deadmans Dean Bottom
have b en observed in 1947
aerial photographs and are relics
of Bronze Age, Iron Age or
medieval farmers in the valley.
Circular walks
i
Golf Course
Built up Areas
W ods open to the public
Private W odland
Designated Public F otpaths
Permi sive F otpaths
Paths also used by horse riders
& cyclists
(with permits)
Long Trail
(4miles - 6.5km)
Short Trail
(1mile - 1.7km)
Sites of Archaeological Interest
Information boards
Waymark posts
Limited roadside parking
i
i
Millar
Wood
Widmer Pond
EARTHWORKS
POND
Ecology of the wood
Farther Barn Field is an open field, but has b en part-planted and is
grazed by ca tle.
Grave ly Way Plantation is a former silver
birch and larch plantation, which is being
thi ned and replanted with native species.
Elephant Tr e - Two beech tr es have
grown together to form the shape of an
elephant's trunk a s en on the front cover. It
can be s en just above the 'M' of Middle Way.
Common W od is a semi-natural Ancient
W odland. This means it has b en w odland for over 4 0 years but
has b en managed by man for most, if not a l tha time. The mainly
b ech w odland we s e today was mostly planted by the Pe n Estate
after the 18 5 Inclosure, with some Douglas Fir avenues. Over the
years, the b ech has b en felled either by clear felling whole areas, or
by selective felling to preserve a continuous canopy. This, combined
with a rich variety of soil types, has resulted in an interesting mix of
flora within the w od.
There are no le s than 14 of the nationally recognised “vegetation
cla sifications” within the w od, from B ech and Bramble, to Gorse
and Bramble scrub, to Oak with Silver Birch, to Yew. This makes for
exce lent biodiversity. In 2 03, 150 plant and tr e types, 85 fungi
(including the first UK report of Ru sula lepidicolor) and 40 bird
species were recorded. Le s common mammals include badgers,
w od mice, muntjac and o casional roe d er.
CHALK TRACK
Keeper’s
Stables Cottage
Sports &
Social Club Pu tenham Place
i
Pugh’s Wood
Li tle Pe n
Farmhouse
Lions Farm
Zachariah’s Pit
Old Pe n Str et Way is the surviving centre part of the main track
through the w od from Po ters Cro s to Pe n Str et, used before the
18 5 enclosure established modern roads (Common Wood Lane and
New Road).
Red Gate (1838) was an entrance to Wycombe Heath. The side
banks of Pe n House Way descending to Red Gate are evidence of
long use.
Barnfield (1690), Spilmor (1690) and Cr ok Snails (1838) are
old field names.
Deadmans Dean Bo tom (1838) - This former trackway probably
owes its name to the discovery of an Anglo-Saxon grave, complete
with skeleton and iron ba tleaxe, in 1828. A BronzeAge axe was
found c.1905.
The Two Sisters (1852) were two old b ech tr es on the Rushmoor
Path side of Farther Barn Field
The Penna is the central open place of Pe n W od where the purpleleaved
b ech from Prince Charles' Highgrov estate was planted by
Earl Howe in 2 0 to mark the purchase of the wood by the
Woodland Trust after its rescue from becoming a golf course.
Goose Pond Gate reminds us of the original role of Pe n W od as
common land befor enclosure. A 17th-century protest poem runs:
"The law locks up the man and woman/ who steals the g ose from o f
the common/ But leaves the greater vi lains l ose/ who steals the
common from the g ose." The nearby Gagemoor Pond could be a
misheard Old English Goosemoor Pond.
The Penna
Old Names (earliest reference date in brackets)
B echw od Co tage
Church Knowl
G ose Pond Gate
Penn
Street
The
Copse
Penn
Estate
Pe n
House
Pe n
Str et
Farm
AROUND
THE VILLAGES
Penn Patient Participation Group
Flu Clinic Dates 2019:
Once again the
Simpson Centre and
Penn surgery, together
with the facilitation of
the PPG, will be
holding the highly
successful flu clinics
this Autumn. These free
vaccines are provided for at risk members of the
community who are registered at the surgery.
At risk patients include the following patients;
over 65’s, if you are pregnant, have certain
medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma,
heart disease, a BMI over 40 and young
children. The complete list of this group can be
found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/
who-should-have-flu-vaccine. Should you be
unclear whether you are entitled to a free flu jab,
please contact your surgery.
Due to patient feedback and to improve
efficiency and reduce waiting times, the clinics
will be organised slightly differently this year.
You will be asked to book an appointment slot
within a 15 minute timeframe either by phoning
the surgery or popping into reception.
An early evening flu clinic has also been
introduced if this is more convenient for you
and 2 dates for children’s clinics will be
published on the website. Eligible children up to
age 11 will be given the vaccines in schools.
Reduce your risk of getting flu by booking
your vaccine appointment NOW. For more
information visit www.thesimpsoncentre.com
The Flu Clinic Dates: all Simpson Centre
• Saturday 12th October 9 - 11am
• Wednesday 23rd October 6.30 - 8pm
• Saturday 2nd November 9 - 11am
Book Your Appointment NOW.
www.pennandtylersgreen.org.uk
Village Voice October/November 2019
P&TG Village Show 2019
A couple of months on from the Village Show,
all the trophies have been engraved, delivered to
the winners and are hopefully resplendent on
mantlepieces and window ledges.
Profits from the show are donated to local
organisations; takings on the door this year were
donated to the Thames Valley air ambulance.
Details of the donations will be published at the
end of October.
Diary Date: the 2020 show will be Saturday
19th September 2020, and focus on late summer
flowers and produce. Please put the date in your
diary and watch out for more articles in VV.
We are already planning next year’s schedule.
If you have any suggestions for classes, please
email them to our email ptgvsc@gmail.com
We also plan to expand our new website
https://pennandtylersgreenvillageshow.com/
There is already a list of this year’s winners,
photos of some of the winning entries to have a
look at and view too. Next year’s schedule will
be available in the New Year together with hints
and tips for entrants and (hopefully) online
entries. You can follow us on Facebook too;
https://www.facebook.com/pennand
tylersgreenvillageshow David Deadman
Common Wood Leaflet
The existing Common
Wood leaflet/map has
been painstakingly
updated and improved.
A complimentary copy
comes with this edition
of VV, which will
hopefully tempt you to
walk in our very own
local wood this autumn,
Archaeology of the wood
and even perhaps, volunteer for a work party.
The map includes a new 11 acre section
behind Larchlands and off Common Wood
Lane. This was recently purchased by the
P&TG Residents Society with the help of the
Woodland Trust, from its former owners, a
syndicate of local residents. Continued on p. 9
Penn
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