Latest Fieldnotes

A small collection of round barrows, of average size for this part of East Sussex, that lie at the junction between the South Down’s Way and the southern spur of the bostal from Kingston to the top of the ridge.

From here the view of Lewes and the surrounding area is beautiful. I can only assume some of the first chieftains of whatever settlement lay where Kingston is now were buried here.

In 1999 it is from this spot, while on my walk to Wiltshire, that I diverted from the South Down’s Way along the path to Kingston, to the grave of my grandfather in Lewes, taking a sprig of gorse to leave there.

Not a visually exciting site this one. But still good to know you stand on ground that, at one time, held a special meaning. It’s also strange to think that the Romans, when they were laying nearby Stane Street, probably had not the slightest clue this site was here.

The South Down’s Way meets the Roman road at Bignor Hill car park. Diverting off the Way south, then south west along the Monarch’s Way, takes you right through the centre of the enclosure.

On your right the south western third of the site is delineated by scrubland, presumably cleared from the interior of the site for archaeology in 1983. The treeline, therefore, marks the edge of the enclosure.

On the left, the north eastern two thirds of the site lie in an open field, and seem invisible, though it is only in this part that remains of the enclosure seem to have been recorded.

Entering the enclosure from the north west, at SU974126, one walks over a very low rise in the ground, which is the only original physical sign of the enclosure I could make out.

Lansdown Barrows – 29.12.2003

These two plain looking round barrows are Scheduled Ancient Monuments. The ‘Magic’ website just confirms that they are scheduled as ‘BA32’, and are described as “Two Round Barrows N Of Blathwayt Arms”. There’s not much to see except for two lumps in a strange scrubby triangular piece of land, that has probably only been left alone because of the existence of the barrows. The barrows are sandwiched between the road and Bath racecourse on the east and west, and a few houses and the Golf Course car park to the south and north. ‘Civilisation’ is creeping towards the barrows, with the new cottage next to the Clubhouse helping to pay for the newly tarmaced car park. The southern barrow is significantly larger than the other barrow.

Nympsfield Long Barrow – 27.12.2003

You might be shocked to here that I had a little trouble at finding this – the most easy to find place! The weather was poor and the car park part of the picnic area seems to have moved compared to the OS map I had (1:25,000 – it has the new Severn Bridge on it so can’t be that old!). This map suggests that the barrow is to the left (south) of any car park. Which, as Moth says, it isn’t. The barrow is slightly to the right of the entrance to the picnic area, and the car parking is on the left at around SO794013. Before anyone thinks I’m mad to not find this immediately I have to also point out in my defence that Colin and Janet Bord’s book ‘A Guide to Ancient Sites in Britain’ (which admittedly does date from the late 1970’s) describes the barrow as at “the southern end of the picnic area”. So I initially looked at the south end, and found some lovely views, but not the barrow.

Don’t miss the stunning views across Gloucestershire, the Severn and Wales. Just walk down to the south (i.e. to the left as you drive in) and the view is everywhere. There is a new panoramic plate on Frocester Hill (on National Trust land) just at the end of the picnic area.

Nympsfield is an interesting example of an open longbarrow and this is approx what Notgrove looked like until it was backfilled. It’s interesting that Colin and Janet Bord’s book strongly disapproved of Notgrove when it was open, but made no adverse comment on Nympsfield.

Uley Long Barrow / Petty Hegler’s Tump – 27.12.2003

I decided to see if there was a pleasant walking route from Uley Bury Hill Fort to the Uley Long Barrow, via the Cotswold Way (i.e. avoiding the main road between the two). The Cotswold Way does run from Uley Bury along through Coaley Wood below Uley Long Barrow, but I couldn’t see any path up to the longbarrow (although I have to say I didn’t try very hard). Instead I scrabbled up a very, very steep (look at the contours on the map!) and slippery slope. I judged it quite well though and emerged from the woods about 100 metres from the barrow. I enjoyed it but don’t encourage anyone else to do it! Not one of my best decisions in life!

The barrow itself made up for my scrabbling. A lumpy, podgy top (not exactly looking like a long barrow), but great entrance and interior. After a quick limbo/creep under the enormous entrance stone, your eyes slowly adjust to the semi-darkness. The walling and stones inside are beautiful. A small plea – take yer feckin tealights home with you please.

If coming by car, I would hardly consider the gap in the field wall next to the tourist sign to be the greatest place to park, but I guess you could park there for a short while. You could try the entrance to the reservoir (almost opposite the tourist sign) or the entrance to the footpath into Toney Wood about 150 metres further down the road (south). You can walk along the road from Uley Bury, but it’s not the most pleasant, or safe walk.

N.B. – local references usually call it ‘Uley Tumulus’ which got me confused several times!

Uley Bury Hill Fort – 27.12.2003

There is a makeshift, muddy (unmarked) layby for about 7 cars at ST787993, towards the top of the hill that leads North West from Uley. If you park here (or walk to it from the Cotswold Way) walk past the large metal gate and the plateau of Uley Bury is about 70 metres onwards, up the muddy track. You can walk all around the top of the hill, and other paths often run down off the hill so you can explore them as well. When walking around the top it seems to be often what would have been the last line of defence, but it’s rarely much of a ditch now. Most of the defence otherwise seems to be the naturally tough escarpment of the hill. This is very steep in places, although on the north West and South sides I was surprised to see small extra ditches and ramparts visible on the hill.

The south east corner is interesting, with a clear entrance built here.

The walk around the hill is pretty pleasant (even in the biting rain!) because it has stunning views, especially to the West, across Gloucestershire and Wales. It’s like being on the top of the world.

Len Derby refers to: ‘A blown-up reproduction of an old picture postcard shows a strange statue perched on one of the walls of the Lud’s Church gully.’ According to my girlfriend’s father who visited the site in the 1930s, there was a ship’s figurehead fixed to the rock just inside the entrance of Lud’s church. This sounds very similar to the youth hostel painting.

I dunno – the mound – the stone – found an old bottle on the footpath. its surely older than that but by how much?
a bronze age smelting pot for medieval charities?

but what do I know read the article below and take the link.

interesting enough according to the guy in the house at the end of the track and in the corner of the square – Britains first windmill was built a couple of hundred yards North west of the barrow site – recorded and documented by the BBC.

As for the barrows/henge? well I couldn’t get near enough to them as the crops were very very young but from 200 hundred metres away you can see a slight dome – well ploughed out now.

Creggandevesky (Stony place of black water) court tomb lies on the west of Lough Mallon. It has been restored after excavation between 1979 and 1982.

To access it, park on the road running E of Lough Mallon and take the path which skirts S of the lough.

The court and three-chamber gallery (opening to the SE) are impressive. The lintel over the gallery entrance is still in position (with a little help!).

This court grave is aligned E/W with the court in the E. The outline of the cairn some 30m long by 15m wide can still be seen.

The line of the court can still be traced reasonably well and especially around the gallery entrance where the stones are still standing.

The gallery is 6m long and has two compartments. One capstone remains but has fallen.

In the W of the cairn are two subsidiary chambers opening to the N and S.

A ruined wedge tomb lying about 100m to the S of its court namesake.

A damaged dual court tomb with galleries at the E and W joined by a two-chambered gallery.

This barrow is one of the ones vandalised by the Victorians, and it is in a very ruined state as you can see from the photos, but worth a visit. Ask permission in the farm, if you cannot find anyone follow the lane one the right you will come to a pheasant brake, the barrow is in here.

I had been up at Appin of Dull Kirk and decided to have a look at Carse Farm 1. I had not been there for a few years and wanted to renew our aquaintance, as I entered the field I raised a Hare which took off through the circle. I had one photo left in my camera and decided to take this picture. The day was how it should allways be when looking for Stones.

The harvest had just finished and this stone looked wonderful in the autumn light so I felt compelled to take these pictures. It is amazing how different Standing stones look as the seasons change.

Drive past Newton of Bamff, the road takes quite a dip, there is a field gate on the left. Park here and go through the gate and follow the path to the right. At the top of the slope walk for about 150 meters keeping your eyes on the right and nestled in the long grass is this lovely little 4 poster. It is difficult to find, I think the map ref. is NO239515.

There are cup markings on this stone,when you are approaching the stone you can vaguely see them but when you get nearer they become very difficult to see. I managed to get these photos but could not see any rings.

After sampling a wonderful fish supper at the Anstruther Fish Bar on the harbour side, make your way to the main road through Cellardyke and after half a mile or so you come to Kilrenny. Take the left fork just before the village and follow the road for 400mtrs and park by the farmyard on the left. If someone is there ask permission to go through (if not go through anyway) and you will see a raised track, follow this and you cannot miss the stone. It is about 4ft high and maybe 12-14ins wide. One side has vertical grooves and the other side has a well defined wheel motif on it. It seems to line up with Largo Law on one side and Kellie Law on the other. A fine stone well worth a visit.

In a large field opposite Little Kit’s Coty lies the natural outcrop of the Coffin Stone. We could see it clearly, but it was right in the middle of a crop of developing brassicas and we walked as far along the field edge as we could, but the light was fading fast and despite attempts I failed to get a decent photo of it. However, even from the distance from which we viewed it, it looked monumentally huge.

The sign says twenty. Moth counted n-n-n-nineteen. Countless? I think not, baby puppy. Whatever the number they’re certainly countable, though you have to have a very lively imagination to reconstruct in your mind the fabulous monument that this once was. A huge burial chamber at some point has just laid down and died. Hopelessly collapsed, its bleached long-dead elephant bones lie strewn ingloriously in a heap. You have to be keen on stones to be impressed by this. It made me want to weep.

Parking precariously in the recommended spot, we squidged the 200 metres up the muddy sunken path to the top of the hill and there it was – looking as cute as a puppy dog’s nose.
With great views over the Medway valley, in spite of the murky weather, this little construction is rudely caged, with a fuck-off spiky fence reminding me of a fluffy chinchilla sitting inside razor wire. But look closely and you see why. The interior portal stone has been a honey pot to the graffiti bees. Mostly delicately carved in classical caps in the late 19th century, they nevertheless have all the charm of repetitious spray-painted ‘Fucks’ on a subway train. The delicious thing about Kit’s Coty is, I think, it’s proportions. It doesn’t overwhelm or impress, it simply enchants with its human scale.

Standing broadside at the chalky escarpment, the stone screamed “Tomb!” to us, though there is no evidence of anything else to justify our assertion. It just felt ‘tomby’ on account of it being big and longer than it is tall.

Like a rock ‘n roll star, the chamber perches on top of the edge of a ridge, so that its stones look for all the world like some Freddie Mercury figure, arms aloft, allowing itself to bask in the glory of its adoring fans. Climb the steps to the left and rise up behind the ‘stage’ to see the pattern of placement of the kerbstones marking out the depth of the longbarrow. And look over the Freddie Mercury chamber and you see that the the rolling fields of Kent are the audience.
A ranch style fence indicates that you’re not meant to walk on the top of the barrow, but people clearly had. Had the weather been better, I may have done so, just to get nearer the chamber, but it was so wet, and I so fearful of going arse-over-tit, I decided against.
This is a cracker of a monument, grand and spectacular and a real surprise to find such a beast lurking in Kent.

Once mistaken for two monuments – bit of a burial chamber one side, bit of a stone circle the other, a road was driven through the middle in the 19th century. Only it isn’t two monuments. At one end is a burial chamber, for sure, but what was once mistaken for a stone circle is in fact the kerbstones of a beautiful long barrow. Joan lovingly preserves it and proudly told us that, thanks to her guadianship, 47 different species of wild plant grow there now. She has had it designated as a nature reserve.