Pickhill Moated Mound Artificial Mound View all content for Pickhill Moated Mound

This is a new and previously forgotten discovery. It may link to the Thornborough Cursus, as it was rediscovered by extending the line of the cursus towards the river swale. "There is a large artificial mound at Pickhill called Pict's Hill (or Money Hill), which now forms part of the railway embankment. Mr Longstaffe gives the following particulars, for which, he says, he is indebted to his friend M. M. Milburm, Esq., land agent, Thirsk. Mother Shipton is said to have prophesied that Pickhill would never thrive till a certain family became extinct, and Picks or Money Hill was cut open. Some years ago an old man dreamed that there was an archway in the hill, beneath which was a black chest, with three locks, containing the money which gives the name to the mound. Well, the family did become extinct in 1850, and the Leeds and Thirsk railway Company cut the hill open in 1851 - though it naturally formed part of its embankment, and their line passes over it. Still the directors ordered it to be excavated - the old man, the dreamer, was still alive, and pointed out the spot where the archway lay. The hill was cut through in all directions, but nothing was found, save in the foss, where portions of tile and a small brick, both vitrified on one side, and fragments of urns, and a piece of thin iron, like the crest of a helmet, were discovered. The mound was squarish, 113 by 80 feet, and surrounded by a moat." Wellans History and Topogrphy of York and North Yorkshire. 1859.

Posted by BrigantesNation 17th August 2003ce

Comments (0)
You must be logged in to add a comment