Fastendich, Stokenchurch (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Pilsedich

In the civil parish of Stokenchurch.
In the historic county of Buckinghamshire.
Modern Authority of Buckinghamshire.
1974 county of Buckinghamshire.
Medieval County of Buckinghamshire.

OS Map Grid Reference: SU788944
Latitude 51.64254° Longitude -0.86271°

Fastendich, Stokenchurch has been described as a Urban Defence although is doubtful that it was such.

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains.

Description

Creighton and Higham write "Fastendich and Old Dashwood Hill are possible examples of enclosed medieval villages." Fastendich is not otherwise referenced and identification with any archaeological site uncertain but seems to refer to PAstScape record 245511:-

The name 'Fastendich' occurs as early as 1197. It is probably a compound of 'faesten' and 'dic', hence 'stronghold-ditch'. The exact site is unknown but it was probably in (the former) West Wycombe parish and may have been hear Widdenton (Widdenton Park Wood is at SU 8191). (EPN) "Fastendich, now covered over with woods, lies below Dell's Farm (SU 7894)and in early Saxon time must have been a very important upland settlement". (Harmon) No trace of a fortified settlement evident on the ground. Medieval field banks are said to be visible within Dell's Wood at SU 788944 and also at SU 791 949.(P A Stevens/18-OCT-1972) SU 7880 9435 Small banked enclosure circa 90m x 30m found several years ago was surveyed by Mr & Mrs Cauvain and B.D Easterbrook in 1978. Finds of pottery, roof tiles and shaped flint indicated occupation, including permanent buildings in the 13th and 14th centuries. It has been suggested that this is is the site of the lost hamlet of Fastendich. (PastScape)

Comments

The Bucks SMR places Fastendich at SU810974 and suggests it as a linear Dark Ages territorial boundary (An entirely reasonable suggestion). Within Stokenchurch CP it identifies a medieval banked enclosure and farmstead at Pomfrey Castle (SU73559495) and another banked enclosure in Dell's Wood (SU78779435) identified as possibly the lost hamlet of Pilsedich. This later seems to be the site PastScape are referring too. The report earthworks are slight and, although the hamlet name still has a ditch component, do not appear to be of a defensive nature. It may well be that Fastendich was a quite undefended village which took its names for its proximity to an older linear earthwork.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s) 245511.
County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) 0242700000,
0554400000.

Books
- Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 259
  Harmon, H., 1934, Notes on West Wycombe p. 16
  Mawer, Allen and Stenton, F.M., 1925, The Place-Names of Buckinghamshire (EPNS 2) p. 207

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