Latest Fieldnotes

Visited 27.5.13

We parked next to the public footpath access point and I read the interesting information board.

The rest stayed in the car as I took the very short walk to the stone.

This is a good stone to visit and was larger than I expected – about 4m high.

I was surprised to see handles inserted into the stone to allow climbers access to the top. Judging by the toe holes worn into the stone many people must have made the climb.

I thought in that case why don’t I see what the view is like from the top? Not a good idea as it turned out!
I made it about half way up when my toe slipped when I was reaching up to the next handle. I started to fall backwards but managed to hold on with one arm as I desperately looked for another hold. At this point I realised that if I had fallen I would have landed on my back on slab of stone – ouch!

I decided discretion was the better part of valour and climbed back down and headed back to the car realising I was not as young, fit or agile as I would like to think I am!!

The Cork Stone is well worth seeking out.

Visited 25.5.13

Although my O/S map showed ‘Tumulus’ on the map I could see nothing on the ground.
The Tumulus is shown as being next to a small copse of trees on the approach road to Arbor Low.

E.H. have nothing to say on the matter either so not a lot to go on.

Visited 25.5.13

Another ‘Tumulus’ marked on the O/S map but again nothing to see on the ground and another ‘Tumulus’ on which E.H. have nothing to report.

There is a public right of way via the track leading to Cales Farm which is a little further down the road from Arbor Low.

A farmer passed me in his tractor as I was walking down the farm track but he didn’t stop.

Very pretty countryside though so not an entirely wasted trip.

Visited 27.5.13

Directions:
A little way further south west along the B5032 from The Boxes Barrow.
Alongside a field track.

We parked next to the field gate and I walked along the track.

There is very little to see, just a very low ‘bump’ in the field.
This Barrow was patrolled by cows.

E.H. state:
‘A slightly oval flat-topped earthen mound up to 0.8m high with max dimensions of 30m by 29m. The monument is not known to have been excavated’.

Directions:
A little way further south west along the B5032 from Row Low Barrow.

We parked outside a posh house opposite the Barrow called Foxgloves.
This was a far from ideal place to stop but it was the only place near – I had to be quick.

I crossed the road and accessed the field via the public footpath sign – near the bus stop.

A grass covered mound patrolled by sheep.
Worth a quick look when in the area.

E.H. state:
‘An earthen mound up to 1.8m high with max dimensions of 39m x 33m. The monument is not known to have been excavated’.

Visited 26.5.13

Easy to spot as the path up to Mam Tor goes straight past it.
The Barrow is on the left hand side as you get near the top.

A large grass covered mound which has been dug into at some point.

Great views.

Brownlow is a bowl barrow sitting upon the crest of a spur in a field North of the B5053 road from Onecote to Warslow opposite Brownlow Farm to the South-West of the Staffordshire Moorlands village of Warslow. Just to the West of Brownlow Farm the road to Upper Elkstone village meets the B5053. A public footpath leads from this road North-Eastwards towards the site, the path runs parallel to the boundary wall of the field containing the barrow. Although the barrow is visible from this path its lower half is partially obscured by a small hillock between the barrow and the wall.

Brownlow is recorded in Bateman but was opened bya Mr. Manclarke on April 18th 1850, by the central pit method. This pit was dug down to a depth of 5ft where the undisturbed soil appeared to be strewn with charcoal, mixed with burnt bones from among which two pieces of flint were retrieved. (Source: Bateman, T. “Ten Years Diggings...” 1861. p245.)

Brownlow survives as an oval earthen mound with max. dimensions of 27m by 22.5m and up to 1.1m high. A shallow pit on top of the barrow is evidence of this antiquarian digging.

Brownlow is marked on OS Landranger 119 and OS Explorer OL24 by a Tumulus label and earthwork symbol.

Scheduled Ancient Monument No.=1008970. Scheduled as Brown Low bowl barrow. NMR = SK05 NE4, R.S.M. No. = 22412, S.M.R. No. = 00145.

Site visited= 17th April 2013.

An easily accessible site on the North-Eastern edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands village of Warslow, Blake Low is a somewhat truncated low oval mound scheduled as a Bronze Age Bowl Barrow.

The site is located to the North-East of the village pub “The Greyhound” and there is some on-street parking between the pub and the concessionary footpath that leads to the site (parking at the pub is limited). A short distance to the South of “The Greyhound” you will see a farm sign reading “The Warslow Herd – Gap Farm” at the end of a farm lane. The footpath follows the lane and across the farmyard of Gap Farm (the one nearest to the road), the path then continues along the lane towards a second farm before turning sharply right along a farm track. Immediately to the left you will see a field enclosed by a wooden fence. This field is almost entirely filled by the barrow. The footpath continues South to the B5053 Warslow to Longnor road. A large South Devon bull was in that field next to Blake Low when I visited and the farm dog was not very friendly!

Blake Low was opened by Carrington on February 23rd 1850. He describes the barrow as an earthen mound 20 yards across and 2ft deep in the trench cut through it. On the natural ground surface near the centre of the barrow a deposit of bones (a cremation?) and charcoal was found over which stones had been heaped. A neat, flint spearhead 2 1/4 inches long and an oval flint instrument 2 inches by 1 1/4 inches which was broken were found accompanying the deposit of bones. Carrington cut several trenches through Blake Low but made no further finds.

Blake Low survives as a slightly truncated (construction of a barn post-1957 levelled the western extremities of the barrow) oval earthen mound with Max. dimensions of 25m by 22m and upto 1.1m high. The central, sub-oval pit can be seen on top of the mound. The close proximity of the farm buildings and the wooden fence enclosing the site give Blake Low something of a ‘hemmed in’ appearance.

Blake Low is marked on OS Landranger 119 and OS Explorer OL24 by a Tumulus label and earthwork symbol.

Scheduled Ancient Monument No=1008969. Scheduled as Blake Low bowl barrow. NMR = SK05 NE7, R.S.M. No. = 22411, S.M.R. No. = 00146.

Site visited= 17th April 2013.

Visited 25.5.13

Directions:
Along a very narrow lane to the east of the village of Warslow – running parallel to the B5054.

The O/S map shows ‘Tumulus’ although another site which E.H. have nothing to report.

We parked near a farm and a pair of dogs started to bark non stop.
There is no public right of way into the field and with the dogs barking I didn’t hang around too long.

If the Tumulus is still here it must now be very low as I was unable to spot anything ‘Barrow like’.

Visited 25.5.13

We headed down the A515 from Arbor Low and I thought we may as well have a quick look at the Moneystone Barrows on the way back to the Travelodge.

I now made a big mistake.
Rather than continuing along the A515 and then taking the B5054 I thought we could take the short cut along the ‘road’ joining the two – wrong!

What I thought was a road turned out in fact to be a rutted, pot holed, mud track which was only suitable for 4x4s or tractors – not a family car!
By the time we realised our mistake it was too late. No way of turning around and reversing seemed as dodgy as continuing forward.

We inched along and the track got increasingly rougher.
I now decided to get out to lessen the weight (and raise the suspension slightly) and walked in front of the car directing Karen on the best way to proceed. I moved large stones off the track and Karen weaved her way slowly but surely down the track – the underside of the car scarping here and there.
Although it took a while we eventually managed to get to the end of the track without too much damage being done – I hope!

After all that I couldn’t even see the Barrow closest to the road – despite have a photo and a description thanks to Stubob. I looked and looked again to no avail. I should have been able to see it but I couldn’t.
Probably the driving experience we just had had affected my ‘old stone prowess’!

I shall have to have another look when we again visit the wonderful Peak District countryside – a beautiful part of the world.

Visited 25.5.13

After leaving the stone circle we headed for the Barrow.
Something no doubt all visitors do.

I didn’t realise until reading the information board that the mound sits on top of a much earlier (2000 years earlier) Long Barrow.
Once it is pointed out you can just about make out some of the contours of the Long Barrow. The Long Barrow being the oldest part of the site.

The weather was beautiful with not a cloud in the sky – as it had been all day.
The views from the top of Gib Hill are extensive.

There are a lot worse final resting places.

Visited 25.5.13

The famous Arbor Low, a place which has been on my wish list for a number of years and at last I am here. Being an English Heritage site the place is well sign posted from the main road so finding the circle isn’t a problem.

The ‘road’ leading to the car park is unnecessarily pot holed for such a well visited place. As we got out the car and started to walk towards the farm the lady of the house stopped her car to ‘remind’ us to put our money in the tin!
It is still £1 per adult although children are allowed in free – that’s good of them!

It’s not that I mind paying for the upkeep of a site but perhaps some of the money raised could be used to fill in the pot holes?
Still, at least the conservatory extension on the farm house looks nice!

We walked through the first gate and could hear the crackle and buzz of the electric fence keeping the cows in check – something to be avoided.

Like most people we headed straight for the stone circle and what a good one it is. The main thing which makes this circle so special of course is the fact it is inside a henge. In my totally unprofessional opinion I would say the stones were purposely pushed down in antiquity and would favour them being re-erected.
I know others will think differently but as a say, just my opinion.

The henge banking was much better preserved than I was expecting and from the top gave great views of the surrounding countryside. There was only one other visitor when we arrived so we were able to try to take in some of the atmosphere.
At least I would have done had Sophie and Dafydd both not been playing up and spoiled things for me somewhat.

This is indeed a very special place and in the ‘Premier League’ of prehistoric sites in Britain. I am really glad to have finally got to visit and was not disappointed in the slightest.
A place I would one day like to re-visit – minus the children!

Highly recommended – worth going a long way out of your way to visit.

Visited 26.5.13

On a bank holiday weekend in such beautiful weather the official car park was full but luckily we managed to squeeze in next to other cars in the bus stop at the start of the footpath leading to the summit of Mam Tor.

The children were asleep so Karen stayed in the car while I headed up the handy stone steps. There were numerous people about heading both up and down the hill.

Towards the top the path cuts across the easily identifiable ditch/rampart which still stands to a height of about 1.5m.
At this point the stone path had ‘open squares’ in it and stone rubble could be seen in the squares. I assume this was to show the make up of the rampart?
I can’t think why else the path would have been designed this way?

However, Mam Tor isn’t about the Hillfort, its all about the vista.
Stunning would be an understatement.
The only blot on the landscape was a large ugly factory of some sort.

As James Cagney once famously stated in one of his films ‘look Ma I’m top of the world!’

This is a place you could spend a long time.
Certainly a lot longer than I had with the others waiting in the car for me.

Visit, Visit, Visit.

Failed visit 26.5.13

Directions:
Take the B6465 south off the A623 past the Rolley Low, Castlegate and Hay Dale Barrows. You will see a sign for Monsal Head viewing area on the right. Turn here and follow the minor road north through the gorge.

The drive through Monsal Head gorge was wonderful.
Sheer cliffs (bit like Cheddar) and tall trees with the sunlight falling through the gaps in the canopy.

Unfortunately the Barrow in question was on top of one of these cliffs and there was no way up. The only way of access (unless you are Spider-Man) would have to be an approach from the west – something I didn’t have time for.

It is of no real surprise that E.H. have nothing to say on the matter.

Visited 26.5.13

Access to the field is easy enough over a decrepit wooden field gate.
Unfortunately the grass was long and I couldn’t see anything ‘Barrow like’.

At least the views made the stop worthwhile.

Perhaps a winter visit would make the Barrow more evident?

Visited 26.5.13

Not sure if I actually spotted the Barrow?

If I did it is now no more than a patch of rough ground.

Was that it?

Visited 26.5.13

As part of my on-going mission to visit every English Heritage site we arrive at the very pretty town of Castleton.
Being a bank holiday weekend the place was full of tourists and Dafydd and myself left Karen and Sophie to look around the shops whilst we headed up towards the castle.
After flashing my CADW membership card to gain entry I had a quick look in the small display cabinet.
Although nearly all medieval there was one small prehistoric flint blade on show.

I shall have to read the guidebook to see if there is any mention of anything prehistoric?

The walk up to the castle itself is very steep and you would have been mad to attempt to attack it from this direction. Once in the castle the views over Castleton and the surrounding area was quite something – well worth the effort of the climb.
Great views over to Mam Tor which I was standing on top of earlier in the day.

Visited 26.5.13

Directions:
Along the B5470 just north of the hamlet of Rainow, opposite Smith Lane.
A public right of way runs immediately to the north of the Barrow.

The Barrow is easily seen from the road as a grass covered mound.
A stone wall runs to the right of the Barrow.

The countryside is lovely here.

Visited 26.5.13

We parked at the entrance to Further Harrop Farm drive and the Barrow is right next to the road/drive.

It is a grass covered mound approximately 1m high x 15m across.

A lovely sunny day with fantastic views to be had looking down the valley.

A bicycle race was being held along the roads – rather them than me peddling up these hills!

Visited 26.5.13

We parked at the entrance to the farm drive.
The metal gate was closed and I assured Karen that ‘no one would be using it at this time of day’ – famous last words!

Karen stayed in the car with the children whilst I hopped over the gate and along the sign posted pubic right of way.

There was no one about except for me and some strange looking sheep which had square looking faces – no idea what breed they were.

I walked across a field before coming off the public footpath and headed towards the high ground where the Bullstones is. Before long the large square stone block came into view.

The sun was getting low in the sky and the shadows longer.
The sky was deep blue with white fluffy clouds.
Extensive views were had in all directions.

The stone block is about 1 metre square, standing in the middle of a circle of stones about 8 metres across.

This is a fine site and a great way to end the day.

I then turned around at the sound of a tractor coming up the drive.
I retraced my steps back onto the permissive footpath but it was obvious I had been spotted where I shouldn’t have been.
As I got to the drive the tractor stopped and out jumped the farmer.

After initially being subject to the usual questions ‘what are you doing here?’ etc the farmer became friendlier as he realised I wasn’t up to no good. In fact by the end of our ‘chat’ he mentioned a few other local sites I may be interested. I was interested but knew my allocated ‘old stoning’ time for today had run out. Still, it was nice of him to mention them.

He asked me where I was from. When I told him I was up for the weekend from South Wales he was amazed that I had taken the trouble to visit the Bullstones. He said that he went to Builth (Wells) each year to the horticultural show – to go on the p**s!!

He jumped back in his tractor and carried on up the drive onto the main road (Karen had to move) and I closed the gate behind him.
‘Got caught then?’ queried Karen.
‘Yup’ I replied

Time for some food…………….

Visited 25.5.13

This was the only site I visited over the weekend which involved climbing over a barbed wire fence to get to!

Not much to see to be honest – a low grass covered mound.

Just to add to Posties directions it is the first yellow grit bin you come to; not the second a little further up the road.

Visited 25.5.13

I first tried to access the site from the east via the public footpath showing on my O/S map. Unfortunately on the ground there is no sign of the footpath – just a high hedgerow.
Instead we took, what turned out to be the easiest way, the lane to the west.

We parked on the main road and I walked along the lane which was bordered by a small field filled with cute looking lambs (perhaps being Welsh I shouldn’t describe lambs as being cute!) This is a very posh area.

The Barrow is two fields over but easily seen. It is approximately 1.5m high x 20m across.
I settled for a view from the lane.

Laughanstown is yet another tantalizing Dublin place that doesn’t give up its secrets too easily. Only a dedicated stone-head would bother with it really, but a little search on t’interweb produced a couple of articles about the excavations here and the immediate vicinity, prior to the Cherrywood extension being built. There were protests campaigns at Carrickmines Castle around this time and this area was mentioned. All that remains of many multi-period sites including burnt mounds, kilns, raths, enclosures and cairns is this intriguing wedge-tomb and an adjacent, small cairn.

The site is doubly enclosed, first by a semi-permanent wooden fence, and then an inner ring of concrete filled oil drums. Between the outer perimeter fence and the actual wedge tomb there is a pond in the north-east sector and a cairn in the south-west directly opposite it. The whole of the site is very drastically overgrown with brambles and is extremely difficult to peruse. The inner core of the tomb has a depression where it looks robbed-out and there is a new ash tree growing on the northwest side, directly on the cairn of the tomb. Some cairn material is visible and there is one granite orthostat still exposed on the mound.

This would be a phenomenal place were it looked after, if you could ignore the embankment that holds the motorway slip-road, with views east to the Irish sea at Killiney Bay and west onto pastoral Ticknick Hill. It epitomises the frustration that many of us feel – modernity and economic concerns butted right up against our ignored prehistoric past and much of the area “preserved by record” only.

A new find from a few days ago bringing the total of marked rocks on this terrace above the River Garry to eight .Views are towards Ben Vrackie , Beinn a Ghlo and Beinn Dearg .

Another visit today, probably my tenth, maybe 15th as it’s only a short drive for me, but once again....wow.
I never tire of this place with it’s expansive views through 360 degrees with backdrops including Stanedge Edge, Ladybower Tor with it’s rock art, the dramatic Win and Lose hills and in the far distance Kinder scout. Get there before 3pm and there’s even a bloody sarnie caravan, what more could anyone want ?

Idiot proof directions here.

weebly.com/weebly/main.php

:)