Latest Fieldnotes

Sunday 2/11/03
This site is usually described as a ‘runic cross’. There are no runes on it and neither is it a cross. It’s a cup and joined-ring marked stone almost 1 metre high and oblong in section. It sits on a modern engraved sandstone plinth dwarfed by the church immediately behind it (one of my friends has the original plinth as a feature in his extensive gardens!). The cup and ring markings are executed in the classic style- by a pecking technique which makes me think that this stone is somewhat much older than the proposed 8th century- the design certainly is. All four sides of the stone are decorated with the same pattern. I can’t find any evidence to suggest that this stone actually formed part of a cross- I guess it was assumed so as it was found in the foundations of an old church which used to stand on this site. However- how many churches have been built on top of Neolithic or Bronze Age monuments?

Sunday 2/11/03
A more grand and glorious well house would be hard to imagine- resplendent in the St. Ronan’s colours of sky-blue and white with a huge royal coat of arms and flagpole. Unfortunately the well house closes for the season on the 19th October, however, on the veranda you can still partake of the mineral waters from a cast iron cistern built into the wall. There are also a couple of interpretive panels highlighting the connections with Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. The spa house was built in 1827, but the curative mineral water of the wells must have been a magnet for thousands of years.

(26th September 2002)

This round barrow sits on the side of the hill here and has a track running past it which heads up to East Ilsley. It is well worn down, but still is a large clump of earth. It sits right on the modern county boundary which then appears to follow the line of Grims Ditch in some places. From this vantage point the other barrows in the Churn Knob area are clearly visible.

Why it is called fox barrow and is named, (as opposed to some of the others in the immediate area) I do not know. It was clearly a well known barrow as it was used for a county (and probably parish) boundary. This is quite common in the area.

You can just see Wittenham Clumps from the site as well.

(28th May 2003)
There is no obvious path up to the cross that I could find, so after tangling with the undergrowth and struggling up the steep slope, I came across it in a small open area. It is slightly overgrown and hasn’t been cleaned (scoured?) for a while I guess.

It sits on a slope, slightly facing downhill and the ends of the cross are not a perfect square, rather they appear to ‘flange’ at the ends.

The view from the site seems to be over towards Henton rather than Bledlow, but the naming could be to do with the importance of the settlement of Bledlow over Henton, or simply because Bledlow is nearer. With the trees cleared, a view across to Bledlow would be plausible.

As to its prehistoric antiquity, it seems possible that it is prehistoric in date, given the position close to the Ridgeway path and the location of some round barrows close by. A Carbon dating of the sub soil (similar to that performed on the White Horse at Uffington) would be conclusive.

Expect to sweat to get here! Only for the fit and healthy!

Sunday 2/11/03
The usual way across the Leithen Water is blocked- the 18th Century Cuddy Brig is finally being restored before the whole thing collapses into the water. I wander up to Jenny Bapties Well and cross the water by the old stepping-stones. A short climb takes you to the summit of this hill, though on the way very little remains of the fortifications can be seen which used to guard this place. There’s a great view across the town of Innerleithen and up and down the Tweed Valley and across to Caerlee Hill Fort on the other side of this glen. The twenty or so house platforms are difficult to see due to the thick ungrazed grass which covers the fort. There’s a fantastic modern addition though in the shape of six carved stone plaques depicting life in Innerleithen from early times to the present day (including a beautifully executed salmon).

Sunday 2/11/03
Through St. Ronan’s Wood I follow the sight of the communications mast that now sits on the side of this fort. The fort is now split in two N/S by a dry stane dyke. On the eastern side of the wall the summit of the hill has been fairly extensively quarried and much of the ramparts and house platforms have been destroyed. However, climbing over the fence, the original features of this fortified settlement are more apparent- you can still see about four of the hut circles and most of the ramparts. From the summit there is a commanding view of the Tweed Valley and across the other side of the Leithen Water glen to the Pirn Hill Fort.

Two huge chunks of millstone grit with a recumbent boulder forming a natural ‘altar’ and enclosing niche. The Thimble Stones lay on the path that runs along the boundary wall between Ashlar Chair and the radio masts at Whetstone Gate. Nearby to the south are the Two Eggs.

It is quite likely that these stones had some relevance to the prehistoric inhabitants of the moor although the ‘cups’ are most likely the result of weather erosion.

I visited the stones on Halloween and was caught in a hailstorm whilst there... the place was just buzzin’!!

Besides the well know carvings at the Hangingstones are two carved bowls set back a little from the main outcrop. They seem just too perfect to be the result of weathering.

Also, if I ever encounter the person who did the knotwork carving on the western rock surface, I’m gonna kick them really hard!

This is a very peculiar site. I’d walked past it a few times before and thought, “gate posts”. As previously described, a partially ruined circle enclosed in drystone walling (possibly a Victorian sheep fold). I really can’t decide if this site is genuinely prehistoric or not.

The long sedge grass and walling makes the site quite difficult to evaluate but from what I could find it seems like there could be a double circle with a central standing stone. However, just when you think you’ve worked it out, you find something that bucks the plan!

The inner circle stones are quite low and in some instances, very square cut. Giving the impression of having been quarried and dressed rather than composed of land-strewn boulders. There is little evidence of weathering on the stones as at the nearby Twelve Apostles circle.

The three larger stones at the back (north west) of the circle are set in a triangle. Two of the stones could possibly form a section of an outer circle, but the third stone appears to be supported by stones similar to those in the drystone walling. One other stone wasn’t even set in the earth, but sat on it’s broad base. The tallest stone appears that have what looks like a figure 8 set on it’s side carved near the top of the stone. This doesn’t appear to have been pecked with stone tools and shows little sign of weathering.

On the southern side of the walling is what could possibly be a ditch and bank, or could equally (or more likely) be a watercourse. This does not surround the site and if the circles were completed to their full circumference, they would cut across the feature.

On the plus side, it commands a wide view over the settlement areas of Backstone Beck and Green Crag. The pointed Idol Rock is clearly visible to the eastern horizon on what could possibly be a Samhien alignment and there would have been good views of sunrises throughout the year, over the cairnfields to the east. Paul Bennett also mentions a fallen monolith to the south at Gill Head (which I didn’t manage to find). He also points out that the Backstone Beck site forms the north western corner of a perfect isosceles triangle with the Twelve Apostles and the Grubstones, with the Lanshaw Lass boundary stone set in the centre of the longest side.

On the question of the Backstone Circle being genuinely prehistoric or not, my inclination is to suspect it as a Victorian Folly. First references to a ‘lost circle beyond White Wells’ come from around this period. However, it is possible that it was constructed on the site of an older monument. Also, medieval masons are known to have erected and moved standing stones around the moor over more recent centuries (Walter Hawksworth of the 14th C in particular) and used the Grubstones and Twelve Apostles for their moots.

I wouldn’t say that I’d rule out the possibility of this being a genuine prehistoric site, but my gut feeling is that what is to be seen there today isn’t entirely prehistoric in origin. The only way to be sure of it’s origins and history is for a full excavation at the site. In the meantime, it’s still a very pleasant spot to visit, so go and make your own mind up.

This heavily weathered rock lays at the meeting point of four moors. Ilkley Moor, Burley Moor, Morton Moor and Bingley Moor (thanks Dave). Cup and ring carvings were recorded in the 19th C, but these have now weathered away and no trace remains.

Paul Bennett describes the rock as an ‘Omphalus’ or a universal centre. It’s name probably comes from it’s use by medieval masons. It was also used as a meeting point for the Pendle Witches.

Rams Hill lies adjacent to the Ridgeway between blowingstone hill and white horse hill. It is very easily missed as all that remains is a prominent, but gently sloped hill.

If you look carefully, you can just (and I mean just!) make out the much eroded remains of a single bank and ditch just below the crown of the hill. The hill itself is small but sufficient to stand out in the surrounding topography.

On the OS map, Rams Hill is marked as a ‘fort’. This is slightly misleading. It is not a hillfort of the Iron age, but a neolithic structure known as a ‘causewayed camp’.

Its original use seems to have been as a meeting place for trading and possibly ceremonial purpose. Its position relative to the White Horse and Uffington castle should be noted. Also, on foot it is not far from Lambourn Seven Barrows.

Natural or man made?

A question that has been bothering me for quite some time (and indeed every time I visit) is:

Is dragon hill a natural formation, or is it man made?

I have found some archaeological references to it and all indications are that the geology is natural. I agree, except to add that the top may be artificially flattened. I believe it is ‘man-enhanced’, that is to say, that it is a naturally occuring piece of geography and that prehistoric man may have added to it to perfect the shape.

Also, note the similarity of it to Silbury Hill. It is like a ‘mini-Silbury’ to me.

A much denuded round barrow is sited just of the Ridgeway path here. It is just next to a small break of trees where the Ridgeway crosses the B4001. It is positioned with a wonderful view over the Vale of the White Horse looking down on Childrey village.

If you approach the area on the Icknield Way (B4057) from Wantage you get a wonderful view of Pigtrough bottom (it looks like a giant pigtrough from a distance, hence its name). Best viewed on the junction of this road and ‘Silver lane’ – just before you reach the dip next to Childrey.

Just a quickie, I visit this place often and it is in a break of trees on the Ridgeway path. It is much worn down and used by trials bikes and mountain bikes for practice (shame!). There is a fair amount of rubbish at this site from campers who don’t pick up the litter (shame again!).

The original shape has long gone and as the centre has collapsed, it resembles more of a dougnut with a hole in one side, than a conical mound (which it once was). All traces of the ditch which once must of surrounded it are also gone. It is still quite a height (20 feet or so tall) and offers a good view out on one side. Try to imagine the original construct and the fact that the trees would not have been there. It sits atop the crest of a hill and would have offered an excellent view of the surrounding countryside.

It is a very large mound, and although it resembles a large barrow (or a mini silbury hill depending on your presuasion), I have found no evdience to support its prehistoric antiquity. All references to Scutchamer Knob are in the early Anglo-Saxon period (400-600 AD).

A pleasant and historically important site (see the folklore), but also a very busy one as the Ridgeway is well used (especially at weekends) and adjacent to the site.

I visited this site in earlier this summer...

Cherbury is a iron age fort that is situated (geographically) on reasonably level ground. Compared with others in the area (Uffington, Segsbury et al), it is not a hillfort. Its position might be thought strange (in the middle of level ground and therefore easy to attack), but I suspect its siting is in opposition to the Atrebates hillforts up on the ridgeway and as such offers good views (on a clear day) to Uffington and the Berkshire downs.

Cherbury has a triple ditch and bank surrounding it and is oval in shape, covering an area of about 9 acres. In a ‘Guide to Prehistoric England’ by ‘Nicholas Thomas’ (batsford 1976) it is described as being probably built in the 5th-4th century BC and being abandoned in the 1st century BC.

Defending Cherbury from attackers may at first look difficult, but it is hard to imagine what an impressive triple bank and ditch plus high wooden fence might have looked like. The triple ditches are still visible and can be made out. The final rampart still has some remains of stone in it (just under the turf) and so some low stone wall must have been present to add to the defence. Surrounding Cherbury is a number of small streams. The land around the camp is very marshy with a clay subsoil and I suspect this might have been put to the defenders advantage in the siting of the fort. If surrounded by marshy ground, then charging the fort by would have been extremely difficult, wetheer on foot or horse back. Being bogged down in front of the camp would have made you a very easy target for missle fire from the defenders. Look out for the marsh grass if you visit, you’ll see what I mean.

The size of the site is impressive, and although rarely visited, is definately worth a visit – if for no other reason, than to see a triple ditch and bank defending it. If you are in the area visiting Uffington or Segsbury, then I recommend a detour to Cherbury.

An Iron Age Fort, roughly oval in plan but associated with several Bronze Age earthworks.

An example of a Bronze Age boundary ditch still marking the border between two counties, Hants and Wilts. More obvious to the SW where Bokerley Dyke and the Grim’s Ditch serve the same purpose. What is more startling about this area is the disparity between the concentration of ancient sites either side of the dividing line. To the W. a huge number of tumuli and earthworks, to the E. none at all! The landscape is of similar form and there is no large physical barrier such as a river to provide a logical boundary. A line drawn between two tribes of dissimilar wealth?

The L7B site is a major site in the area, in my opinion as great as White Horse Hill or Waylands Smithy for archaeological interest. Although not seven in number (more like 30 plus!) it is a major bronze age barrow cemetry, akin to normanton et al.

I recommend that visitors to the site should also look at some other areas of interest nearby:

1) the remains of a neolithic long barrow (as marked on the OS map ‘Explorer 170 – Abingdon, Wantage and the Vale of White Horse’) just on the edge of a small copse NW of the main site. Some sarsen stones remain (please, please leave them there for others!) and the ‘hump’ of the remains of a long barrow can still be seen. This continuity of a sacred burial site (neolithic through to bronze age – covering a good 1000 years or more) is simply amazing. The hill marked on the OS map adjacent to the long barrow site is still called ‘crog hill’. This is an iron age (celtic) word which means ‘hill, mound or tumulus’ (Crug). Indicating that with the arrival of the iron age, the celtic peoples recognised the place as a place of the dead and this placename has survived right through to the modern day. Again, simply amazing!

2) A nearby approach road to the area (B4001) as it crosses over the ridgeway and past Sparsholt firs (the big radio tower). Has a very well preserved barrow adjacent to it (marked on the OS map). It is just inside the trees there, and its edge would have crossed the tarmac’d road. Although the main hump of the barrow is well worn, you can still see the circular bank and ditch around its circumference. The area has been recently fenced off by the local landowner (September 2003). From this view point, you can look down into the L7B area. Carrying further along the straight tarmac’d road here are a few other breaks of beech trees. Some appear to contain possible barrow sites – make your own mind up if you visit.

3) Between postdown house and sevn barrows house on the other side of the road from the main site, are more barrows worth exploring. Also further past the site on the road between ‘scary hill’ and ‘sparsholt down’ are even more barrows. Study the OS map and take a look.

All in all L7B has many sides to explore in terms of neolithic, bronze and iron age interest. Take time to visit the centre of the site, but also explore the environs, they are interesting too!

I parked next to the post box and wandered up to this one via the entrance to the Manor.

The banks are impressively high and steep, but pretty heavily wooded, so it’s not really possible to walk right around the top of the bank (I gave up when I slid down the ditch for the second time while trying to swing round a tree using a branch which wasn’t attached to anything).

The bank now surrounds a stud farm, and was a bit lacking in atmosphere. Nice horses, though.

It’s not easy to get a handle on this one, as it’s set in a dense (although small) bit of woodland.

I couldn’t see any sign of an entrance to the barrow, although I think that the surrounding ditch is shallower at the eastern end.

Easy to get to from the road/track from Whitsbury village, although you have to walk to the far side of the wood before reaching the break in the surrounding fence.

It’s an atmosheric spot (lots of dark twisted trees) and I stayed for quite a while, in spite of lots of pheasant feeding equipment in the area, which made me a bit nervous of being either shot at or accosted by a game keeper.

While visiting Crail Have a look at this. It’s not very noteworthy but it has been left alone for a long time. Have lunch at the Golf Hotel, good food and their home made rhubarb crumble and custard is part of heaven.

I can only agree with Martin about this circle,it was rather overgrown when I was here in September but the harvest was in so you could get a good perspective of the stones.The views are stunning,the southern view is marred by a hedge.Easy to get to,a bit of a pull up the slope but a great atmosphere.

This is but a very short section of the remains of a massive earthwork which encloses much of this part of Hampshire. The County boundary still follows the course of this dyke (although not here) which gives western Hampshire a huge penninsular of land which juts into Wiltshire and Dorset. Part of the W boundary is defined by the Bokerley Dyke and a short stretch by a Roman road. Much of the Dyke consists of twin banks with a ditch between. The area enclosed is about 16 sq.miles in extent and deliniates a large ranch belonging to the Middle/Late Bronze Age.

Pevsner/Lloyd (Hampshire & the Isle of Wight) mention that in the 1960s, an excavation near the N defences found the plan of a circular wooden house 25ft in diameter. Pottery dated it to Iron Age B cultures. The site was occupied in the Mesolithic and Roman periods.

Epping Forest contains two Iron Age earthworks. It is thought that both Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Banks were built around 500 BC. Used as animal folds in times of attack from another tribe or as look out posts and boundary markers between the Trinovantes and the Catevellauni. In use until after the Roman invasions.

Loughton Camp is located deep in the forest and a good map is required to find it. Never properly excavated, but an Iron Age stone quern was found nearby.