Gorsey Bigbury Henge View all content for Gorsey Bigbury

Why has a Henge gone unvisited for seven years? Jimits almost fieldnotes then nothing, It was time to set things right. Situated on the northern slopes of the Mendips near the intriguingly named velvet bottom, Gorsey bigbury henge lies beween two farms by what looks like a very minor road on the map, its very overgrown, no car has passed this way for years but it is now a very pleasureable walk. We appraoched first from the east and attempted a parking at Lower farm, strictly private no parking sent us scurrying back to the road, we then tried the western farm, the way was clear so I knocked at the door and took a half hearted look around the farm but couldnt find anyone, I turned back but then spotted a women changing out of her caving gear, I asked her if the owners were around she said they were in the house so I knocked again but still no answer, hmmmm what to do? I ethically parked the car next to the cavers van hoping permission would rub off and onto me, issued instructions to wife and daughter on what to do if confronted by farmer whilst me and Eric were off hengeing. The overgrown old farm track leads almost directly to the henge, cows watched us pass them by, unconcerned by us they continued chewing the cud, despite some slight nettleing we made it down the fenced off nature trail to the point where we had to jump the fence to gain acess to the henge field, Eric shimmied under the barbed wire, and I expertly vaulted over it. We could see the earthwork from a distance allaying my fears that the place was too flattened out to be able to appreciate it properly, the Hawthorn trees (one now dead) also marked its position. Some small stones are visible on its northern side I dont think they're part of anything original probably dumped there by farmers past, the place seemed lost and unknown, a few standing stones and thered be a visitor centre over the road or a regular ferry service, as it is I couldnt think of a more pleasant place, the sunshine was only interupted by fluffy white clouds, the cows left us in peace, complete lack of other people, no all obscuring vegatation and Eric had much to say as usuall and not all about the henge either. The walk back to the car was once again nettleing but otherwise uneventful, I'm off to Stanton Drew now and there is nothing and I mean nothing that I would rather do.

Posted by postman 1st August 2010ce

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