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Well my excursion to Stonehenge this morning (1st December) went very well. In spite of the weekends weather, Monday morning was turning out to be a fine if not very cold, day.
My son and I had arranged a early 'Out of Hours' visit to the much maligned monument about a month ago. It was quite easy to do and involved an email or two, a quick phone call to reserve the day we wanted and then faxing an application form over to EH.
We arrived about 15 minutes early and was met by a security guard whom on this occasion was very polite, friendly and helpful. He gave us a quick 'do's and don'ts' brief and we waited for every body to turn up. Until everybody was together we couldn't go in but that gave me an opportunity to take a couple of pic's as the sun was rising through the early morning cloud. The sun was just breaking the horizon and although it wasn't a spectacular event it was pleasant enough.
Eventually we were allowed in and we made our way to the circle. It is easy to see why people are disappointed when they arrive. The stones look small and unimpressive from outside the roped off area. I took a couple of shots of the the sun poking through the uprights which was quite effective and then stepped into the cordoned off area. Its funny really as I felt I shouldn't be do what we were doing.
The feeling of awkwardness and the inadequacies of the stones melted away rapidly as I stepped over the rope and approach the circle. Everything gets so much bigger and more impressive the closer you get. Eventually standing by the side of these stones you realise their enormity and the enormity of the task in hand for the ancient people who built this now very impressive structure. The 'rocks' are BIG and there are so many crammed in such a small area that everything bears down upon you.
I sent my son off with the video camera while I took some shots with the DSLR. Before the visit I had done a little planning on what I was going to do but like every visit I make to such places, the excitement takes over and common sense is abandoned completely. The light was good and the sun was casting a nice warm glow onto the stones. Also t this point the circle was still relatively empty so I snapped away as quick as I could to take advantage of the situation.
Eventually the circle filled up as the other early visitors arrived and it became difficult to get good clean shots. My eagerness to take pictures waned and I began to wander through the stones taking in what I could. The green mosses and lichens on the stones gave them an aged appearance. The black rooks (I assume they were rooks) fighting for position high up on one of the trilithons. Both the smooth and gnarled uprights pitted with deep holes. I think I lost myself for a while here just looking, thinking and sometimes feeling and the nearby traffic noise now drowned out by my own mind.
With about 20 minutes left most people had now left. I guess it was the cold. The stones were almost empty again with maybe on 10 of us left giving me another opportunity to get some more relaxed photos taken.
I must admit I have changed my mind about Stonehenge. Before my visit it was a ghastly tourist trap, that you could only get a few distant snap shots of as you jostled with the masses by the boundary rope. But it does have a soul and also something to say. "Visit me on a cold clear winter morning. Wander among my bones and muscles and wonder how. Drift through time with me to an innocent age and marvel at what you see".
If you haven't already tried an out of hours access visit then I strongly recommend it. To me it was worth every penny and really has changed my view of Stonehenge.
:o)
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Every time I travelled from Chippenham to London on the train (normally work related) I would notice what looked like a small mound in a field somewhere between Didcot and Cholsey and wondered what it could be.
After many trips I eventually got around to working out what field it was in and tried to find it on the OS maps but with no luck. I checked out some of the maps on the 'Old Maps' web site where I noticed that the field it was located in had been used as a rifle range. Could this mound have just been a target or 'bullet stopper' of some sort? Also on the old maps were some unclear words where the mound was but I can not be certain what they say.
One thing that I did wondered about was why it was still here. If it is not an ancient mount the farmer could have easily removed this mound making his work a little easier.
Anyway, on one occasion I was travelling to London by car and on the way back thought I could take a break by this barrow and maybe get some pictures. I worked out its co-ordinates from Google Earth a put them into my Sat Nav. The nearest road is Church Road out of Cholsey where the mound can be seen in the field on the left. There is a little lay-by just opposite and I followed the tractor marks down the field to the barrow which seemed much further than the map suggested.
After growing a couple of inches taller due to the mud on my boots I arrived at the barrow.
This time of the year it was covered in nettles and there were a couple of bushes sprouting from it top.
Despite all the foliage I would guess the mound to be about 2.5-3 metres at its highest point towards the north end and slopes quite rapidly down to about a metre at its southern end.
I am sure this is not a long barrow as it would be quite short at about 10 metres long. Looking from the western side there is evidence that it has been chopped into by the plough and maybe this has given it its elongated shape I had observed on Google Earth.
I am not convinced this is an ancient mound but I thought I may as well highlight it on this site. Maybe one of you more local people can shed some light on its history. I would be interested none the less.
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Rollright Flying Visit
I was on my way back home from Coventry along the Fosse Way. As it was the start of the bank holiday weekend the road seemed packed with cars towing caravans and other traffic just trying to get home so I decided to leave the Fosse and headed towards Shipston and Chipping Norton along the A3400. As I travelled through Long Compton I noticed the sign for Little Rollright and decided (despite having my brightest yellow shirt on) I could do with a break and headed for the stones.
I pulled up in the layby and could immediately see things had changed since I was last here. There were 'kissing' style metal gates and a proper path for access to both the King's Men and the Whispering Knights.
The stone circle had been 'taped off' in a fashion but access was still available to the circle centre and the stones themselves so I am not sure what was going on. The tape around the stones was distracting at first but after a while I could ignore it.
The sun was still quite high in the sky and really brought out the texture and colours of the stones, they reminded me somewhat of the North -East Circle at Stanton Drew. I managed to avoid the people and get some good photos of the circle.
I had to laugh to myself when I heard a elderly gentleman say to (presumably) his wife " these stones are amazing and just imagine this was built all those millions of years ago and it is still here today". His wife then said " yes …Its just like Stonehenge isn't it". I hope they read the information signs :o)
I then made my way to the Whispering Knights along the wheel chair friendly path and got some more photo's and then went back and over the road to the King Stone. I then made my way back to the car but then I noticed that I should have paid 50p entrance fee into the 'honesty box' when I arrived, which wasn't there when I first came here. I didn't have 50p only a £2 coin, but having read how money was needed for a new visitor info building, this seemed a worthwhile cause. I then rejoined the heaving traffic and continued on my way home. I will be back when I have more time.
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World Tour of Nympsfield: Today we went to Nympsfield as it is not that far really and Rex can act up in the car sometimes, but also because there are a few barrows worth visiting around that area.
We arrived a Uley Longbarrow or Hetty Pegler's Tump as it is also known about 10:30am. Unfortunately the sun was only making an apearence now and again but the barrow looked good in the ever changing light. We parked in the layby by the sub station and crossed over the road toward the barrow. There is a signpost to the barrow but it can be seen from the roadside quite easily; the way is marked as a public footpath.
As we walked toward the barrow a buzzard or some type of hawk swooped quite low over head – wish I had the camera ready.
We reached the gate to the enclosed area around the barrow and could immediately see that somebody had daubed could paint or chalk over the capstone. Now I don't mind those people who feel it necessary to leave some biodegradable 'offering' at these places but I do get annoyed at people drawing one them.
As I approached the walled entrance to the barrow I could see that many of the stones also had drawings and writing on them.
The entrance is quite low down and I can not be described as lithe so it was down on all fours and I shuffled under the huge stone. Inside the barrow the height at least doubles and I was able to move around fairly freely. As I approached the end of the barrow in the gloom I could make out some sort of wooden structure. I switched on my torch and was face to face with some sort of cage structure that completely occupied the end chamber. At first I thought some sort of bat colony had taken up home in the tump, but there was no sign of anything inside and there was no notice outside. Taking a closer look it appeared it was just a supporting structure but what a monstrosity to have in such a beautiful barrow. I am sure if there was danger that some better solution could have been incorporated. I took some photos of the structure and the various chambers and left a little disappointed.
We returned to the car and drove up to Nympsfiled LB but by now Rex was fed up with the car a caused a great deal of fuss during the short journey there. The barrow is situated in a picnic area and so there were many dogs about. Rex being a little grumpy in his old age had to be kept on a lead to stop him getting snappy!
At first we walked to the Soldiers Grave which is a round barrow (past the longbarrow) and just in the wooded area along the edge of the escarpment so that Rex would get a bit of a walk. The barrow has been dug into quite extensively and now judging by the 'litter' around the place, appears to be the place to go to for late night shenanigans if you know what I mean.
We returned to the longbarrow at the car park. This was a open and restored barrow but seemed a little barren as it looked quite nice but was a little clean for my liking. I took some photo's for the collection and took Rex to the car. The sky was still quite leaden but the view over the valley was magnificent being crossed with a patchwork of dappled sunlight and mist. What a view the barrows would have had all that time ago.
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It's Saturday and the weather is good so my son and I (and Rex of course) decided to go to Stoney Littleton LB. We did think about going to Wayland's Smithy but talk of car theft on TMA but me off the idea.
I hadn't been there for about 15 years but can still remember the way quite well. What I hadn't remembered was the beautiful surroundings the barrow is set in. Driven down the rather narrow but pretty lane toward Stoney Littleton, we could see the barrow on the hillside ahead of us. We arrived at the little car park at by the river Wellow where the way to longbarrow is well signposted. Crossing the wooden footbridge and sty we headed up the hill which although is a little steep is quite short. There a are quite a few sty's on route and we had to carry Rex over a couple of them which would have been a little problematic had I not had my son with me.
Arriving at the barrow I was delighted to see that it was still well kept as it was all that time ago. In fact it was better as previously the entrance had a gate across it and I could not go inside (Obviously work had been done to make access inside safe). I had even go my camera out before my son AND the Rex were inside like a rabbit down a burrow. Being a little on the larger side I was reluctant but my enthusiasm over took me and I went for it. As my son had pinched the torch before I had a chance I headed for the light that was glowing at the end of what looked like a very long tunnel. I made my way along being careful not to bang my head. As I passed the first two side chambers the passageway got lower and quite narrow. My son, giving me confidence beckoned me on by shining the light in my eyes….sorry.. by shinning the light along the route for me. It felt as if the tunnel had got a little wider but at the same time somewhat more lower. By now it had also got more damp and I was crouching with my hands in the muddy soil but I had reached the end. I think for the size of the barrow the passage way is very long. With all three of us at the end it was very cramped and quite claustrophobic. We took some time to look at the wonderful internal structure and contemplated what we saw. I like to sit and imagine the people who built and used these remarkable monuments to their kin. My son and Rex made there way back along to the outside and I was left alone in the dark. Despite the strong wind outside, it was silent inside the chamber and I remained still for a few minutes, as it is not often you get moments like this. My son called down from the end of the chamber and I was startled out of my mini slumber. I began to take some pictures as I made my way out to the entrance which can be difficult in the dark (thank goodness for digital cameras). We walked back to the car a slightly different way which meant we did not have to get over as many stiles as on the way up. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and my son agreed it was one of the better barrows I had dragged him along to. I haven't posted any pictures as I can't really add anthing to what is already here. But I did get some good shots.
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Today the weathermen promised sunny periods so Rex and I got our stuff together and headed for the hills well to the Cotswolds anyway. I wanted to visit a few barrows that I had seen on the map but either hadn't been to before or that I hadn't visited for years.
I started with Green Barrow Farm, which is just up the road from me and which in a nutshell is barely a lump in a field.
The second was Kington Down Farm, which was more interesting and was quite close to the road. The GPS reading I had was a little way out from that given on TMA so I wasn't sure If I had found the correct place as it looked like a great pile of mud (but small for an LB) with sheep all over it. I didn't want Rex to get out and worry the sheep so I took a quick photo and would return again at another time.
I then tried to find West Barrow near Acton Turville but gave up on this after driving up and down what was a busy road with very little parking up places.
Next was Giant's Cave. I had been here before a long time ago and I quite enjoyed it then. As I pulled up alongside the barrow I could immediately see that a great deal of clearing work had been carried out recently. The whole barrow had been opened up and it was now possible to see its undulating shape. Walking onto the barrow three of the chambers are clearly visible high up on top, each one marked by large limestone slabs sunk into the mound. It looks as if there could have been another as the side of the barrow had been dug away but there was no evidence of the large stones seen on the others. I walked around the barrow on clearly visible at the western end is evidence of a dry stone wall which looks like it may have continued around edge.
This is a lovely place, very quite and peaceful. The barrow is still quite spectacular even in its state of disrepair. I would say this place is crying out for some sort of restoration work beyond just clearing the overgrowth. Rex and I left this barrow quite uplifted after some of our earlier visits to the other barrows (and the fact that Rex had taken a dip in the fast flowing stream that runs along side the barrow).
Next we visited Starveall which was another pleasant barrow in the middle of a field. There are no chambers visible but the surroundings are quite pleasant.
All in all a nice day out.
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