Roadside view 21.7.15
Directions:
On the western outskirts of Congleton, next to the A54.
My initial approach was via the minor road to the west but this soon became a no-no as the fields were in crop - corn I think. We carried on north and turned right onto the A54 to take us into Congleton. I thought that was that.
I was surprised to then see the long barrow quite close to this road. It is easily seen as a long low mound, covered in large mature trees. Parking could be tricky but probably the best place would be the muddy access road leading to the housing construction site - still on-going. Fortunately these new houses are still a little way from the long barrow. How close they are planning to build I don't know?
Due to a combination of the long drive, a car load of hungry and tired people who were keen to get to a cafe in Congleton for breakfast and the rain I didn't actually get to have a proper visit. Perhaps next time?
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Drive by 21.7.15
Directions:
To the west of the A535. A short distance north of the famous Jodrell Bank.
As Posties photos show, the fields where the barrows lie are undulating and the ploughed down barrows are not easy to spot - particularly on a drive-by.
The A535 is a busy road and parking is tricky.
E.H. state the 3 barrows are between 0.75m and 1m high x 35m in diameter. The barrows have been carbon dated to c1900BC. The cremated remains of a young woman was discovered within a leather container when one of the barrows was excavated in the 1970s.
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Directions:
Approximately 3km south east out of Baldock on the A507
‘Drive by’ 24.5.15
There was nowhere to park on the busy A507 so I had to settle for a drive-by.
The fields were in crop and I couldn’t make anything out. This could have been due to the crop or perhaps the barrow has been ploughed out? E.H. have nothing to say on the matter.
No doubt a winter visit is required? If you do plan a visit I suggest parking at the church in Clothall and approach via the public right of way from that direction.
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Failed visit 13.4.15
Directions:
A short distance south of the A382 / B3206 junction – opposite Meacombe Farm
After visiting the excellent Spinsters’ Rock dolmen I wanted to have a look at this burial chamber.
However, Karen was less than keen as it had been a long drive in a hire car she wasn’t used to driving and the lane leading to the site is very narrow, overgrown and has very few passing places. It didn’t help that the low fuel warning was bleeping away and I knew we were some distance from the likely nearest petrol station. Added to this was the fact the children were getting restless and were keen to get to our caravan.
The hedgerows alongside the road are very high, well over head height and as I said, there are very few places to park. I would say the best place to park would be at the farm to the south and then walk back up the lane to the burial chamber. This was something I didn’t have the opportunity on this occasion to do. Perhaps next time?
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'Drive by' 28.10.14
Directions:
South of East Harling, alongside the B1111.
I could just about make out a grass covered mound amid trees and bushes.
E.H. have no comment.
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'Drive by' 28.10.14
Directions:
West of Grimes Graves, alongside the road but in dense woodland.
A proper search for the barrows would be quite tricky as this appears to be on MOD land and there are warning signs to say the verge is soft so you could get stuck if you pulled over.
I possibly saw one of the barrows as a low overgrown mound amid the trees - but I can't be 100% sure.
E.H. state:
Two bowl barrows visible as earthen mounds. Both approx 1m high x 30m in diameter.
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'Drive by' 27.10.14
Directions:
Near the junction of the A12 / A1214.
South of Woodbridge.
Parking is impossible here so I attempted to see this large barrow by driving past on each of the roads.
Unfortunately the area is overgrown woodland and nothing can be seen - except trees and bushes of course! Perhaps it can be seen in the winter?
E.H. state:
A bowl barrow 2.6m in height and covering an area 30m in diameter.
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'Drive by' 27.10.14
Directions:
A short distance north of Pole Hill barrow, just south of Woodbridge along a minor road.
After visiting Pole Hill barrow I thought I would have a look for barrows further along the road.
Unfortunately the area consists of very overgrown woodland. I couldn't see anything to be honest.
Parking would be difficult if you fancied crashing your way through the undergrowth to look for the barrows!
There is a further barrow (580m north) at TM2386345885 which I didn't have time to look for.
E.H. state:
Two bowl barrows, standing 1m and 0.8, with a combined length of 24m. The barrows are the only two which survive of a closely spaced group of 6.
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'Drive by' 14.10.14
Directions:
Directly opposite the junction leading from the minor road from Long Bredy onto the A35.
These two very large grass covered barrows are easy to spot. If visiting, a standing stone is a little way to the east along a track.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to visit the stone. Perhaps next time?
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There is a large barrow which can be seen on the southern side of the wood south of the the other baoor(s) / long barrow.
I spotted it whilst driving north along the minor road between Portesham and the A35.
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I was able to spot 3 barrows when driving along the minor road to the east. They appeared as rough grass covered mounds.
Access to the barrows can be made via a farm track leading from the road.
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‘Drive by’ 13.10.14
Driving along the B3081 I could spot two of the barrows showing on the O/S map.
Both are rough grass covered mounds.
One is right next to the road and the other is further into a field.
Parking would be difficult on this busy road.
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‘Drive by’ 13.10.14
Several of the barrows making up this cemetery can be seen when driving along the very busy A354.
Parking would be a problem if opting for a closer look.
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Directions:
North of Newton Barrow on the western side of the A360.
‘Drive by’ 13.10.14
Despite these being nowhere to park the barrow can be easily seen when driving past.
It is approximately 1 metre high x 10 metres across.
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‘Drive by’ 13.10.14
After visiting the new visitor centre at Stonehenge I kept an eye out for this longbarrow on our way south. I have known about this site for a long time but had never actually seen it. I am pleased to say that it is very easy to spot when driving past. There is no chance of parking near the longbarrow. I am not sure where the closest parking would be – the visitor centre main car park perhaps?
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Visited 13.10.14
Since the closing of the road / opening of the new visitor’s centre I had been keen to re-visit Stonehenge. Not to look at the stones but the new exhibition centre.
The visitor’s centre is very easy to access and looked quite impressive on the approach to the large car park. Despite the foul weather the car park had several coaches and many cars already parked up. Several groups of school children excitedly waited with their teachers for their turn to board one of the land trains.
Karen went for a much needed coffee whilst I headed for the ticket booth. The lady looked a little surprised when I said I only wanted a ticket for the exhibition centre and not to see the stones themselves but a ticket was duly issued. It is nearly £20.00 per adult to see the stones and exhibition – I have no idea how much it would be to just see the exhibition. Fortunately I have a CADW card so admission was free for me.
As you enter the building you first come to a 360 degree surround visual display of what it is like to be in the centre of the stones at the mid-summer / mid-winter solstice. The film is run on a loop and I thought it was well done although it only lasts a few minutes (ship ‘em in – ship ‘em out) came to mind.
From here you enter the main exhibition room which has another large visual presentation along the far wall and several displays along the other walls. There are (I think) 8 free standing glass display cabinets in the centre of the room which were really interesting. I particularly liked the pretty ‘ceremonial’ mace head. The ‘reconstructed’ head of the controversial skeleton on display is excellent and very life-like. I spent quite a long time moving slowly from cabinet to cabinet.
There is a lot to see – pottery, bone tools, stone tools, flint arrow heads, flint scrapers etc.
I then went out the back door to have a look around the reconstructed round houses. The rain continued to pour and as such there were few people about. The replica (fiberglass) megalith on the wooden sledge was impressive and gives a good idea of the scale involved in moving these massive stones. You can even test your strength in trying to move it!
There was a private event going on in one of the huts and a flint knapping demonstration in another. I spent a bit of time chatting to an E.H. chap in the other round house who explained to me how they built the hut and showed me the clever way they made the door. A small mouse scuttled past – not a bad place to live!
I then headed for the café to meet up with Karen and we finished our visit with a look around the shop. The shop is much bigger than the old one and you can buy just about anything with a Stonehenge theme – a Stonehenge snow globe anyone? Some of the prices were eye watering and clearly aimed at the overseas market – an engraved glass vase £500.00, a limited edition teddy bear for £110.00………. I decided not to bother!
All in all I was very impressed with the new visitor centre and it is certainly much better than the old one. However, I did come away with a few negatives.
Firstly, with the exception of the chap I was speaking to in the round house, all the staff I encountered seemed quite miserable? There was little interaction with visitors and very few smiles to be seen. Everything seemed a bit much trouble. I know not everyone is happy in the job all the time but it is a lot of money to visit Stonehenge so a smile and a friendly face wouldn’t go amiss!
Also, when we were sat in the café we looked outside to see children trying to keep out of the rain (and keep warm) whilst eating their sandwiches. Why hasn’t E.H. provided a ‘school room’ where children can eat their sandwiches in the warm and dry on days like today? I am sure Stonehenge generates enough income to pay for one. Most large ‘attractions’ (which is what Stonehenge is) have these facilities. Perhaps I am doing a disservice and they do have one but I didn’t see it?
Even if you have been before the new visitor centre / exhibition room makes Stonehenge a place to re-visit. Just make sure you take plenty of money with you.
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‘Drive by’ 13.10.14
Directions:
Just south of Knowlton Henge, on the east side of the B3078
The barrow is easily seen from the road as a tree and bush covered mound.
The barrow is approximately 2 metres high x 25 metres across.
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Directions:
Mid way between Llandefalle and Llanfilo – just north of the A438.
After visiting the lovely old church of St Matthew in Lladefalle (complete with fragments of mediaeval wall painting) I attempted to visit this nearby enclosure.
Unfortunately I hadn’t allowed for the very narrow roads with little to no passing or parking places. It was dodgy enough parking at the church, certainly not a place to leave your car for too long.
There is no public right of way to the site and a visit to Tre Durn would involve a long walk from wherever you were able to park. Something I didn’t have time for as I was keen to visit the not too distant Hills Camp Hillfort.
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‘Drive by’
Visible from the A99 as a low mound in the middle of a field.
So, is this a broch or a cairn?
CANMORE state:
A grassy mound with a flattish top sloping down towards the E. The mound, 1.9m in maximum height on the SW side, now measures 36m NNW-SSE by 45m transversely, but it was proabably originally circular and about 36m in diameter, the E end having been spread by ploughing. On the W side of the mound are traces of a ditch 13m in width, with a counterscarp 1.0m maximum height. On top of the mound is a small modern cairn. No traces of broch structure were seen.
Revised at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (W D J) 21 April 1963.
The remains of a broch, as described by the previous authorities. The slight rise of the centre of the mound may distinguish the actual broch structure from the assumed encircling secondary structures.
Visited by OS (J B) 1 September 1982.
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'Drive by' 24.7.14
Can be seen from the A99 as a large rough grassed over mound - on the edge of Clashmore Wood.
CANMORE state:
(NH 7634 9000) Evelix: Round cairn, Orkney-Cromarty type, possibly with polygonal chamber. The cairn has been almost entirely removed and the E edge has been curtailed by ploughing. Only a slight ridge on the NE edge indicates its probable extent implying a diameter of c. 70ft. The chamber has been built with massive irregular boulders, a number of which remain in situ.
The entrance has been from the ESE. On this side is a pair of stones set 3' 3" apart. Six feet to the W is a pair of side slabs set 4' 4" apart, and beyond this has been a pair of transverse slbas of which only the W stone remains. Beyond these stones there has been a compartment about 7' wide, with N and S stones. Eight feet further west is a group of four lower stones which are difficult to interpret, though they may appear to be arranged in relation to the main axis of the chamber.
If they represent the inner end of the chamber then it has been at the very least 26' long. The W pair of these stones, which have the appearance of being portal or divisional slabs are set at an oblique angle to the main axis of the chamber. The top of the long stone to the SE of them is flush with the turf and may represent a side stone, while the higher eastermost slab, again set an an angle to the axis, suggests the S partner of yet another pair of divisional slabs.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909; A S Henshall 1963.
NH 7634 8999 An Orkney-Cromarty chambered cairn as described and planned by Henshall.
Surveyed at 1/2500
Visited by OS (A A) 25 March 1971.
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I have visited both historic and prehistoric sites for a number of years but since 'discovering' this website my visits have spiralled out of control!
I am now out 'exploring' as often as possible and have been to many wonderful places I didn't even know existed before using this website.
Having visited all the CADW sites I am now trying to visit all the E.H. sites and as many H.S. sites as possible.
In trying to achieve these goals I get to travel all around the country and with it the chance to visit as many sites as possible mentioned on this fine website. I hope some of you find my contributions a little helpful?
I have certainly found the contributions made by others to be both very informative and often quite amusing!
I must also mention the lovely Karen whom without her help, encouragement and understanding I would not be able to visit half of the places I do.
I am forever grateful.
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