I learnt (12th Sept., 1884) another tradition of hidden treasures. At the Bury Ditches, a very large entrenched camp some five miles from Clun, there is buried a 'stean' (an earthen pan, see Word-Book) of gold belonging to the fairies. A clue of golden wire is attached to it, which will lead the seeker to the spot. My informant remembered hearing the story as a child, 1839-1845, and wanting to search for the end of the clue when gathering wimberries there.
From volume 3 of Charlotte Burne's 'Shropshire Folk-lore' (1886).
The Green Man Festival. A couple of miles from Bury Ditches lies the village of Clun. It's a wonder to behold the dual-imaged Horned God and the Green Man challenging Winter on the old bridge, to make way for the May Queen. It is hard to put into words quite WHAT it is that strikes one so deeply about the Green Man, yet this man is so grateful to the people of Clun for keeping him alive. Russell Hoban in his novel 'Riddley Walker' captures the essence: "The look o' that face saying so many different things only no words to say 'em with. Never seen that face befor yet it wer a face I knowit....".
This hill fort has amazing views of all the Shropshire favourites - the Stiperstones, the Long Mynd, Wenlock Edge, the Clee Hills - plus the mountains of the Welsh borderland.
The two entrances are cunningly designed in a wiggly fashion for maximum defence.
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