Evaulation at Bury Farm Moated Site, Missenden

Combined building survey of historic barns, watching brief and targetted excavation within new building footprints. These investigations revealed evidence of a medieval field system marked by boundary ditches and of pottery production, most likely dated to the mid twelfth to mid thirteenth century, in the near vicinity. A very large assemblage of mis-fired pottery was recovered from a number of pits at the site, which suggest that a kiln existed close to the excavation area. Both the field system and the pottery production pre-date the establishment of the Bury Farm moat, which appears to have been superimposed on the existing agricultural landscape. No evidence for the date of the construction of the moat was revealed. Two barns within the complex were recorded during their conversion to residential use and excavations revealed a floor surface beside one of the barns, presumably relating to an earlier building. Evidence of an internal wall or partition within the same barn was also identified.