Boveney Court, Dorney, Buckinghamshire

The bend of the River Thames, south of Dorney Reach contains one of the most extensive areas of surviving cropmarks in the Middle Thames Va11ey. These were first noted in The Middle Thames Valley: an archaeological survey of the river gravels - Timothy Gates 1975, Map 28. This survey classified the complex as Grade 2 (excavation desirable in the event of development). However since 1975 aerial- survey has revealed further evidence of Neolithic interrupted ditch enclosures, probable prehistoric barrows and prehistoric and/or Roman settlement.
These have been described in D R Wilson's report to Eton college: Archaeological cropmarks between Bovenev and Dorney (June 1986) and The Dornev Study: an archaeological implications report (March 1986.) by P Carstairs of Buckinghamshire county Museum for Thames Water. The site is not a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
It is not possible for any Rowing course of the proposed scale to avoid having an impact on the archaeological remains. However, on the evidence of the cropmarks, the proposed line appears to be the best option. The Oxford Archaeological Unit was asked by Eton college to assess the impact of the rowing course in order to provide information for future discussions with the focal authorities and with the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (HBMC).