Hackpen Hill is a former haunt of the fairies - or perhaps they're there still?
In 1645 Aubrey heard from an old man called Ambrose Browne. He said there was 'a hinde goeing upon Hack-pin with corne' who was led a dance by the fairies to the village, 'and so was a shepherd of Winterbourne Basset.'
The shepherd had said that the ground opened and he was taken into 'strange places' underground, where music was being played on viols and lutes. The shepherd got no good of his visit to the fairy mound 'for never any afterwards enjoy themselves.'
(quoted in Jennifer Westwood's 'Albion' p55)
There are two round barrows on the smr for hackpen hill. One of them was partially excavated by Canon Greenwell, "a prolific excavator of barrows," between 1877 and 1889. He found a cremation burial with a bronze dagger as well as a later Saxon inhumation with an iron spear.
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Posted by Rhiannon
8th April 2004ce
Edited 31st August 2006ce
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