 Previous 20 | Showing 61-70 of 70 miscellaneous posts. Most recent first
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Lowbury hill is a probable Romano-Celtic temple and an Anglo-Saxon burial site. (source the archaeological journal vol 151 - 1994)
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This is a poem that fronts a book entitled 'A School History of Berkshire' by E A Greening Lambourn.
Old god of ancient worshippers,
Hoar guardian of the Vale,
Reveal the secrets of the years,
And to thy children's eager ears
Unfold thy wondrous tale.
While yet the she-wolf's litter played
On the seven hills of Rome,
I saw yon dimpled hollows made
With pick of stone and wooden spade,
To be the Flint-man's home.
I watched the painting victim bound
On Wayland's altar-stone,
The low-browed priesthood chanted round,
I saw the red blood soak the ground,
I heard the dying groan.
Look where the lines and circles there
Make patterns in the wheat:
Oh, that was a city, great and fair,
With temples tall and market-square,
And many a stately street.
Where wind-swept Ashdown stretches free
Above the laden plain,
I saw the Northmen break and flee,
Heard Alfred shout for victory,
And saw Earl Sidroc slain.
I heard the Gospel message given
Where village crosses stand;
Where wild beast-men had snarled and striven,
I saw the spires rise white to heaven,
Throughout a peaceful land.
Where Ock once ran through wild and waste,
By rush and reed and thorn,
I watched the jolly monks, moon-faced,
With shaven head and corded waist,
Bind up the rustling corn.
But yesterday I saw you claim
Your Father's heritage;
The land that bears the English name,
The race that won the English fame,
I watch from age to age.
Old Watcher we are known to thee
As children of the breed:
We will not shame the ancient name
Nor fail the ancient creed.
E.A.G.L. (published 1908)
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From: The Berkshire Archaeological Journal Vol 42 Part 2, Berkshire Barrows by L V Grinsell (1938)
Foxes Beorge (Fox Barrow)
Blewbury Charter;
There is no doubt this is a barrow, and it is the barrow still called Fox Barrow adjoining Grims Ditch at the meeting point of the parishes of Compton, Blewbury, and East Ilsley.
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What is a causewayed camp?
Unlike an iron age hillfort, where the ditch and bank runs almost completely around the fort, a causewayed camp has a ditch which is crossed many times with entrances. An iron age hill fort is for defence, a causewayed camp is not. Its prime purpose is not defensive in nature.
It was first thought that they were enclosures for cattle in the Neolithic period. Many bones from culled animals of many types were found in the ditches surrounding these structures.
It is thought that they performed a variety of social, economic and religious functions for early neolithic communities.
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More Holy than rightious...
Those huge sarsens at Waylands (and indeed many other sites). Ever noticed that huge one at Waylands full of little holes? Well how? I was dicussing this recently with a visitor to the site who suggested that the geological formation of the sarsen was to blame. Apparently, the holes were formed when the sedimentary sandstone in more liquid form, moulded around tree roots. The later cooling and formation of the stones caused these holes to appear. The wood, rots away, or at best creates a weakness, and hey presto, the holes appear and erode. Holy or Hole-y?
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Those interested in Waylands Smithy Neolithic origins should consider getting hold of a copy of John North's wonderful book 'Stonehenge, Neolithic Man and the Cosmos' in which a section is devoted to the Archaeo-Astronomy of Waylands Smithy and how it is sited according to the rising and setting of certain star constellations that had either ritual, or functional importance to neolithic man. Apparently, Waylands Smithy has a relationship to Deneb, a star in Cygnus (the swan) in the Milky Way. This was a star that set on the northern point of the horizon and was revered in Northern Mythology.
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At the site, there is usually a leaflet about the legend of the blowing stone that you can take (for a small contribution). It explains the folklore and written references. Worth a quick stop if you are heading to White Horse Hill or Waylands Smithy.
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There is a reference to this barrow and the adjacent one in the Anglo-Saxon charters. In 'Berkshire Barrows' by 'L.V. Grinsell' (Berkshire Archaeological Journal vol 42 part 2 - 1938) it is listed as:
Hafoces Hlaew and Hundes Hlaew Mr O G S Crawford (note on OS map at Southampton) thinks these may be Idlebush barrow and the disc barrow to South, on 19 N.W.
Hafoc is A-S for 'Hawk' and Hundes is probably A-S for 'Dog or Hound'. Many bronze age barrows in the area are named by Anglo-Saxons after animals or people from their own mythology (i.e. Waylands Smithy).
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A new book by a local author about waylands smithy has been released this year.
It is called 'Myths and Mysteries of Wayland Smith' by 'Clive Alfred Spinage' and is priced at £10 (GBP). It contains much folklore about the local legend of Wayland as well as more mythological folklore. There is also a good description of the archaeology relating to the site.
There are some excellent prints in it (although the print quality is a bit lacking) including a lovely ariel shot of the site showing that the ridgeway once flowed right past the front of the tomb rather than on its present course.
It is up for sale at www.amazon.co.uk, but I purchased mine local from a bookshop called 'wessex press' in Wantage. Good reading for those interested in both the archaeology and folklore of the site.
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Previous 20 | Showing 61-70 of 70 miscellaneous posts. Most recent first |
Live near the Ridgeway and most interested in sites 'up the rudge'.
Hates: people leaving rubbish at Wayland Smithy (groan, gripe, rant, rage, dribble etc!)
Loves: people taking their rubbish away with them in bags. And yes, that includes nitelites, coins (at least make them silver!), glass, sweet wrappers and dog ends.
Q. what's brown and sticky?
A. try collecting firewood at Waylands.
THINK. would you shit in a church?
... ... ... here endeth the rant
} cUrReNt NoNsEnSe {
Doesn't pagan to a roman just mean some old person who lives in the sticks?
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"
"God dammit Jim, I'm a Doctor not a Dealer"
"We have sat waiting like this many times before. Sometimes I tire... of the fighting and killing. At night, I can hear the call of my race. They wait for me. When I join them, we will be forgotten."
"We're dealing with a Gnome! A Devil!... A Devil? Now you listen to me. The Devil in the Keep wears a black uniform, has a Death's Head in his cap, and calls himself a Sturmbannführer!"
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