Details

The monument comprises two deserted village sites. The village sites
are considered to represent a single medieval settlement which
shifted, during the medieval period, to a more suitable location.
The less substantial of the two village sites lies to the west of the
now ruined Church Farm and comprises house platforms and a trackway
running east-west across the field (under pasture). In the west of
the field is a large flat area divided by a broad street which may be
a penning area with a droveway. To the east is the second village
site (SP80511583) to which the original settlement is considered to
have migrated. This site was probably depopulated by 1485. The
earthworks of streets and houses are clear and represent a nucleated
village covering some 25 acres, currently under permanent pasture.
The pattern of streets and crofts can be seen to radiate from a
central pond and mill while the sunken main street can be clearly
seen, ascending the hill from the manor in the west.
Later in date is the Civil War earthwork (SP80621562), one of the most
striking examples of Royalist earthworks situated on the site of the
so-called Battle of Aylesbury (1642).

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Villages were key components of Medieval rural life. Well-preserved
deserted villages, such as these at Quarrendon, are archaeologically
important because the Medieval remains have not been disturbed or
damaged by later settlement. Whilst desertion is often associated
with the Black Death, this monument is interpreted as exhibiting two
phases of "desertion", the first when the location of the village
shifted. The monument is therefore important not only as a result of
its good state of preservation but also because of the information it
contains for more general settlement studies.
In addition, Quarrendon contains a Civil War earthwork. This is one of
the most striking known examples of Royalist fieldworks and is
situated on the site of the so-called Battle of Aylesbury (1642).

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of Buckinghamshire, (1915), 100-102
The Victoria History of the County of Buckinghamshire, (1915), 100
Allcroft, A H, Earthworks of England, (1908), 604
Beresford, MW, Hurst, JG, Deserted Medieval Villages , (1971), 64,184
Beresford, MW, Hurst, JG, Deserted Medieval Villages , (1971), 64,184
Beresford, MW, St Joseph, JK, Medieval England: An Aerial Survey (1958), (1958), 57,116
Chambers, E K, Sir Henry Lee, (1936), 12-15
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, , An Inventory of Historic Monuments in Buckinghamshire, (1912), 273
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments, , An Inventory of Historic Monuments in Buckinghamshire, (1912), 273
Other
in CAS file 0407, Hurst J G, MS Notes on Quarrendon,
Ordnance Survey , Ordnance Survey Archaeological Records SP 81 NW 8,
Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record SP 71 NE 12,

Source: Historic England