Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Our parks are rich source of local heritage with many housing a scheduled ancient monument. Many scheduled ancients monuments in Milton Keynes parks are moated sites and medieval fishponds and two are motte and bailey earthworks at Shenley Church End, known as Shenley Toot and another at Old Wolverton as part of medieval village complex. The earthworks around Old Wolverton in the Ouse Valley Park unveil the secrets of a deserted medieval village and motte and bailey castle. The site at Loughton consists of a moated site, dry fishpond, ridge and furrow field system, and stock enclosure with clearly defined ditches. Now home to grazing animals the scheduled ancient monuments in the Ouzel Valley comprise a shrunken medieval village, medieval fishponds and moated sites. Located along the Tattenhoe Valley, the Water Spinney comprises of the remnants of a large medieval fish pond and earthen dam. Moated sites at Shenley Brook End and Shenley Church End Buried and visable remains of medieval manor of Simpson. The manor occupied an area now used a pasture to the South and East of Simpson Village.Old Wolverton Medieval Village Earthworks
Moated Site at Loughton with Medieval Earthworks
Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the Ouzel Valley
Medieval Fishpond in Water Spinney, Tattenhoe
Moated Sites and Medieval Earthworks in the Shenleys
Medieval Manor of Simpson
Discover our parks
- Stanton Low Park
Facilities:
Stanton Low Park lies to the north of Milton Keynes and offers attractive views across the valley of the River Great Ouse. It is one of Milton Keynes’ more recently-created parks (officially opened in 2016) and lies between the Oakridge Park residential area and the Linford Lakes Nature Reserve. A children’s play area has been provided for use by local residents.
Refreshments
Refreshments are available from the nearby Black Horse pub next to the Grand Union Canal. There are shops selling food at the Oakridge Park Local Centre. - Great Linford Manor Park
Facilities:
Great Linford Manor Park is a special, heritage-rich park set within the old village of Great Linford. It contains features that were first laid out centuries ago, including ponds and a Wilderness Garden which represent the English Landscape style of garden design that became popular for country estates during the 18th Century.
Refreshments
Refreshments and food can be found nearby at The Black Horse and the Nag’s Head which are open for lunch and supper. Milton Keynes Arts Centre has a small café where drinks can be purchased. - Ouzel Valley Park
Facilities:
The Ouzel Valley Park meanders from Caldecotte Lake in the south to Willen Lake in the north. The park has a spacious, open atmosphere with long views. Much of the land is farmed by The Parks Trust rearing our own cattle and sheep, between the livestock you can still see the remnants of an old field system with the ridge and furrow still visible. Incorporating the historic villages of Woolstone and Woughton, the park is bordered on its western side by the Grand Union Canal.
Refreshments
There is the Ye Olde Swan pub at Woughton on the Green and a further two pubs - the Barge and the Cross Keys – that are located on Newport Road in Woolstone village. - Ouse Valley Park
Facilities:
The Ouse Valley Park lies in the floodplain of the Great Ouse which flows from Oxfordshire to the Wash. The park is the most rural of any found in Milton Keynes and is a great place to go to experience the feeling of the countryside without leaving the city. Old trees, hedgerows, meadows, and new plantations combine to provide excellent habitats for wildlife.
Refreshments
Refreshments can be found at Stony Stratford, Wolverton and New Bradwell alongside the park. At Old Wolverton the route passes directly by the Wolverton House pub restaurant. - North Loughton Valley Park
Facilities:
This area of linear parkland runs from Blue Bridge at the Grand Union Canal down as far as Lodge Lake at Loughton Lodge. Its features include historical items and some world famous Milton Keynes icons!
Refreshments
The nearest shops and pubs are in Bradwell. - The Toot
Facilities:
This small pasture area at Shenley Church End is a scheduled ancient monument because in 1239 AD it was a moated motte and bailey castle, home to the family of Hugh, Earl of Chester. The motte and bailey castle consisted of an earth-built mound (the motte) normally topped with a timber tower, standing in a flat fortified enclosure (the bailey). Please note the toot can be hard to access at different times of the year due to the motte around it.
Refreshments
There are no facilities on site but there are a range of pubs and shops in Shenley Church End about 10 minutes’ walk away to the east.
- For information and routes for walking, cycling, bus and train trips in MK use the transport planner
- Great Linford Manor Park is a special and wonderful place to visit, with a history that can be traced back at least to Saxon times. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been awarded funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.