Olney Buckinghamshire Historic Towns Assessment Report Olney from the south-east, 1930 – Britain from Above @ English Heritage The Buckinghamshire Historic Towns Project was carried out between 2008 and 2012 by Buckinghamshire County Council with the sponsorship of English Heritage and the support of Milton Keynes Council © Buckinghamshire County Council 2010 Report produced by David Green and Ruth Beckley Historical documentary research by Dr Kim Taylor-Moore, Leicester University All the mapping contained in this report is based upon the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office © Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100021529 (2010) All historic mapping contained in this report © Intermap Technologies Ltd All Historic Photographs are reproduced courtesy of the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies unless otherwise stated. Copies of this report and further information can be obtained from: Buckinghamshire County Council Planning Advisory and Compliance Service, Place Service, Buckinghamshire County Council County Hall Aylesbury Bucks HP20 1UY Tel: 01296 382656 Email: [email protected] Olney Historic Town Assessment Summary .................................................................................................................................................. 5 I DESCRIPTION................................................................................................................................... 8 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Project Background and Purpose ............................................................................................ 8 1.2 Aims ......................................................................................................................................... 8 2 Setting ............................................................................................................................................. 14 2.1 Location, Topography & Geology .......................................................................................... 14 2.2 Wider Landscape ................................................................................................................... 14 3 Evidence.......................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Historic Maps.......................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Documentary Evidence .......................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Built Heritage.......................................................................................................................... 15 3.4 Archaeological Evidence........................................................................................................ 16 3.5 Environmental Evidence ........................................................................................................ 26 4 Archaeological & Historical Development................................................................................... 30 4.1 Prehistoric period (c.10,000 BC – AD 43).............................................................................. 30 4.2 Roman synthesis and components (AD 43 – 410) ................................................................ 32 4.3 Saxon synthesis and components (AD 410 – 1066).............................................................. 34 4.4 Medieval synthesis and components (1066-1536) ................................................................ 37 4.5 Post medieval synthesis and components (1536-1800) ........................................................ 42 4.6 Modern synthesis and components (1800-Present) .............................................................. 47 5 Historic Urban Zones..................................................................................................................... 58 5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 58 5.2 Historic Urban Zones ............................................................................................................. 58 5.3 Archaeological Assessment................................................................................................... 58 5.4 Heritage Values...................................................................................................................... 61 5.5 Historic Settlement ................................................................................................................. 63 5.6 Modern Settlement................................................................................................................. 68 II ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 70 6 Designations................................................................................................................................... 70 6.1 Conservation Areas (CA) ....................................................................................................... 71 6.2 Registered Parks and Gardens.............................................................................................. 71 6.3 Archaeological Notification Areas .......................................................................................... 71 6.4 Scheduled Ancient Monuments ............................................................................................. 71 7 Summary and Potential ................................................................................................................. 71 7.1 Character................................................................................................................................ 71 7.2 Archaeological Potential......................................................................................................... 71 8 Management Recommendations .................................................................................................. 71 8.1 Conservation Area ................................................................................................................. 71 8.2 Registered Parks and Gardens.............................................................................................. 71 8.3 Archaeological Notification Areas .......................................................................................... 71 8.4 Scheduled Ancient Monuments ............................................................................................. 72 8.5 Listed Building........................................................................................................................ 72 III RESEARCH AGENDA.................................................................................................................73 9 Research Agenda ........................................................................................................................... 73 9.1 Prehistoric .............................................................................................................................. 73 9.2 Roman.................................................................................................................................... 73 9.3 Anglo Saxon........................................................................................................................... 73 9.4 Medieval................................................................................................................................. 73 9.5 Post Medieval......................................................................................................................... 74 10 Bibliography................................................................................................................................ 75 11 Addresses ................................................................................................................................... 78 1 Appendix: Chronology & Glossary of Terms .............................................................................. 79 1.1 Chronology (taken from Unlocking Buckinghamshire’s Past Website).................................. 79 1.2 Glossary of Terms.................................................................................................................. 79 2 Appendix: HER Records................................................................................................................ 81 2.1 Monuments HER Report........................................................................................................ 81 2.2 Find Spots .............................................................................................................................. 83 2.3 Listed Buildings ...................................................................................................................... 86 3 Olney Historic Town Assessment 3 Appendix: Trade Listings and Population Data .......................................................................... 90 4 Appendix: Historical Consultancy Report................................................................................... 92 List of Illustrations Figure 2: