Belas Knap - S.E. Chamber | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

scubi63 Apr 15, 2007 20:49:54

Three of us walked up to Belas Knap LB this afternoon and as we walked around the barrow we noticed that the S.E. chamber had a large amount of stone debri in and around the entrance.
If you look at the photo taken by Ironman in May 2002 (http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/5336) with that of Danieljackson in January 2007 (http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/54948), you can see the appearnece of the stone. Now compare this with the photo taken today by me (http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/56970) and you can see the further increase in the debri in only a three month period. I was reluctant to go right into the chamber (I am far too fat) to see if ths stone was being pulled down from within but it does look like it. I am quite concerned with this and don't know if it has already been reported or who the best person to report it too.
Do any of you people have any ideas?

mercian Apr 15, 2007 21:05:02

Replying to scubi63

Reporting it here is a good thing to start with.
If you skip between the photos its obvious that its deteriating from the top. And that's just in a few years. No time in compared to how old it is.

FourWinds Apr 15, 2007 23:01:05

Replying to scubi63

That looks terrible. It's hard to believe that it's just crumbled. Looks like it's been attacked, doesn't it.

scubi63 Jun 15, 2007 15:54:41

Replying to scubi63

Well it looks like the mindless idiots are back again , this time with avengance.
Just had this email from Toby Catchpole of Glos' Archaeology Service.

"The vandalism to the SE chamber at Belas Knap has recurred (see photos attached). This time they've filled the entire chamber and damaged a substantial chunk of the drystone boundary wall. I assume it must be the same people as last time as the damage is so similar.

I will be arranging repairs but given the extent of the damage we'll have to arrange finances, order in replacement walling stone and do the works when our team have time in their schedule.

I thought I'd let you know in case you or your contacts noticed this and were concerned. We're on the case but it might take some time. Have you heard of anything similar happening elsewhere? I'm at a loss to know what they were hoping to achieve."

Aren't we all Toby!

Anybody else seen this sort of thing?

Belas Knap — S.E. Chamber