Re: wrong grid ref? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Combend Farm 1

Image by Emma A

wrong grid ref?

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thesweetcheat Apr 2, 2012 12:51:14

Replying to TMA Ed

TMA Ed wrote:

Thanks Emma. I can only assume Rhiannon was off with her fairies that day as the MAGIC map doesn't seem to show any long barrows near Elkstone, and nothing at the original grid reference. I have renamed the site according to this
http://magic.defra.gov.uk/rsm/31934.pdf
and your photos are now here
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2002
if you want to add any further notes.
Thank you,
TMA Ed.

I think there might be a long barrow at/near Elkstone, but am at work and can't check. There are some stones in the churchyard I keep meaning to have a look at too (from DP Sullivan's Old Stones of Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean).

Will have a look when I get home.

tsc

Rhiannon Apr 2, 2012 14:02:49

Replying to thesweetcheat

I have no explanation at all :( sorry.

But Elkstone church looks like it's got some superb carvings
http://www.beyond-the-pale.org.uk/zElkstone.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84265607@N00/637512450
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichardyuk/4748932069/
http://www.sheelanagig.org/index.html#http://www.sheelanagig.org/sheelaelkstone.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichardyuk/4749523534/

I can feel a visit brewing myself.

thesweetcheat Apr 2, 2012 19:42:08

Replying to thesweetcheat

thesweetcheat wrote:

Will have a look when I get home.

tsc

Right, well I got the book name wrong (it's Old Stones of the Cotswolds & Forest of Dean), but it does have an entry for the churchyard stones at Elkstone, and the entry includes reference to a possible destroyed long barrow:

The Archaeological Record records the possible existence of a long barrow site north west of High Cross as SO964135. All that remains is an elongated oval scatter of limestone in the cultivated field. A standing stone once stood in the field which may have been a stone from the barrow. This was removed and is believed to be the stone now set by the wall. It was once used as a marker for the Coberley Parish boundary (G.T. Harding, July 1961).

However, "Gloucestershire Barrows, Lists: Long Barrows, Gloucestershire", H O'Neill and L.V. Grinsell 1960 (Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society) doesn't mention any long barrow at Elkstone.

I've also checked the 19th century 25" maps and there's no long barrow shown in the vicinity of Elkstone. Interestingly the round barrow in Emma's picture wasn't shown as an archaeological feature (marked "tumulus") into the 20th century. It was shown as a clump of trees prior to that!