Latest Miscellany

Not to be confused with the shapely hill overlooking Abergavenny, this ‘Sugar Loaf’ – presumably so named on account of its profile... although exactly what a sugar loaf is I could not tell... can’t be very healthy? – is actually crowned by the remains of an Iron Age hill fort... a fact that 99.9% of visitors to this rather fine ‘picnic spot’ upon the A483 between Llandovery and Llanwrtyd Wells are probably oblivious to.

To be fair, there are mitigating factors, not least that the ancient providence was apparently only ascertained from the air in 2001! OK, the defences are far from obvious on the ground; however, I can confirm they are there alright. A wonderful spot, indeed.

The archaeological experts reckon:

“The Iron age hillfort occupying the summit of ‘Sugar Loaf’ knoll, is aligned SW/NE. The fort is elongated, oval in shape, with an entrance at the north east end. A single earthwork rampart defines the north side of the fort, with apparently no artificial defences on the south side due to the precipitous natural slopes. The rampart narrows along the spine of the ridge at the north east end, and ends in a cross bank defending the simple ?passage entrance. Discovered during RCAHMW aerial reconnaissance in 2001
(AP ref: 2001/3528 26-28). Not inspected on ground. TGD”

Facing off to the fabulously be-cairned Bryn Rhudd and Banc-y-Gwyngoed across Cwm Brefi, Crug, not to be outdone, is also crowned by the remains of a pretty substantial Bronze Age monument. However, this – despite still measuring some 35 feet across – possesses a more subtle allure for the passing antiquarian than the mighty stone piles to the north. Indeed, topped as it is by a crude, circular ‘hat’ enclosing the OS trig pillar, the uninitiated muppet searching for shelter might well not discern the ancient, grassy footprint underfoot.

I approached via the forestry track east of Pant-yr-esgair, eventually gaining the treeline to the north via a steep ride (in retrospect one should approach the fence sooner rather than later). Following said fence across Esgair Goch to the southwest, prior to veering northwest, a stile eventually allows access to the summit of Crug at a junction. A fine place to be, with some pretty fine panoramic views.

The people at Coflein reckon:

“This stone cairn sits on the southern side of the highest point of Crug.... The cairn is almost completely covered with grass with its stone make-up showing most clearly on the southeast. It is roughly 10.5 metres in diameter and up to 0.7 metres high on its southeast side. On top of it is a circular drystone structure... in the centre of which is a concrete Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar.” [J.J. Hall, Trysor, 14 July 2012]

Now The Elenydd, that wild ‘Green Desert of Wales’, has perhaps more than its fair share of wondrously obscure prehistoric sites... however, this is arguably as obscure as they come: not only is it not indicated upon OS mapping... not even Coflein have been able to locate it, to date:

“Place name ‘Gurnos’ mutated from Gyrnos. Translates as ‘place of cairns’. At time of field visit no cairns found in immediate area, however area of rocky outcrop on E slope & top of Gurnos has numerable possible iron age features.(RSJ 2000)”

To be fair, it IS rather difficult to locate, being exactly where one would not expect it to be, about a half mile SW of the Rhos-y-Gelynnen stone row. The effort – extreme effort if, like me, one foolishly decides the direct approach from below to the south ‘won’t be that bad’ – is worth it, however: the cairn is pretty substantial, well preserved... and appears to feature the remains of an internal cist. Furthermore, the vibe is sensational.

Not indicated upon OS mapping, I, therefore, neglected to visit this pleasing monument when checking out the large Lluest Aber Caethon ‘mound’ and cairns upon Esgair Beddau a few years back now. Still, better late than never...

OK, the conditions were not ideal, but the ethereal ambience overlooking the abandoned farm below was nevertheless just what the doctor ordered. Quite a lot of internal structure is still evident for such an obscure site...

Coflein reckons:

“7m outer diam, Disturbed. Central area robbed, Mudstone & quartz stones thrown aside. Central cist intact but exposed. Uprights in position. Alignment N-S. Central hollow approx 3-4m diam(RSJ 2000)”

Directions to Corwall S Cairn.

An old farm track winds up from the coastal road, A747 to Port William, at Chapel Finian. There is a large grassy car park at NX 2794 4876, on the right of the A747. Walk NE along the road for c. 175 yards to reach a wooden gate on your right, c. 40 yards SE of Chapel Finian, at NX 2786 4887. A vague farm track starts here. The track is overgrown at first but clears into a wide grassy track as it nears Corwall Farm. Two cairns can be accessed from this track. After c. 1 mile there is a gateway into open moor at NX 2855 4915. Corwall S Cairn is c. 270 yards ESE of this location. Retrace your steps WNW to return to the track. Continue N through semi-derelict Corwall Farm to reach a gateway at NX 2897 4946, just before a ruined cottage on your right. Corwall E Cairn is c. 275 yards ENE from here in a grassy field. There is a marker cairn on the cairn to guide you to it. My route can be viewed on Corwall Cairns.

Directions to Corwall S Cairn.

An old farm track winds up from the coastal road, A747 to Port William, at Chapel Finian. There is a large grassy car park at NX 2794 4876, on the right of the A747. Walk NE along the road for c. 175 yards to reach a wooden gate on your right, c. 40 yards SE of Chapel Finian, at NX 2786 4887. A vague farm track starts here. The track is overgrown at first but clears into a wide grassy track as it nears Corwall Farm. Two cairns can be accessed from this track. After c. 1 mile there is a gateway into open moor at NX 2855 4915. Corwall S Cairn is c. 270 yards ESE of this location. Retrace your steps WNW to return to the track. Continue N through semi-derelict Corwall Farm to reach a gateway at NX 2897 4946, just before a ruined cottage on your right. Corwall E Cairn is c. 275 yards ENE from here in a grassy field. There is a marker cairn on the cairn to guide you to it. My route can be viewed on Corwall Cairns.

The highest point of the narrow summit ridge of Domen Milwyn (1,821ft) is annotated upon current OS mapping with ‘Cairn’, albeit sans antiquarian typeface, this no doubt a reference to the substantial marker cairn seen from afar. Nevertheless, a closer look by those willing and able to make the rather taxing trek from Cwmystwyth will reveal a small, embedded footprint underlying the modern construct... to these (now rather experienced) eyes, pretty conclusive evidence of prehistoric ancestry.

Indeed, The Dyfed Archaeological Trust note: “Possible Bronze Age round barrow. Status unconfirmed.” Bear in mind that, since the neighbouring peaks also possess their own Bronze Age monuments, the context is also right on the money. Clearly, what we have here crowning these unfashionably obscure hills is a pretty extensive Bronze Age cemetery. Who would have thought it?

In the Citizen Cairn’s view, this unassuming remnant of our ancient heritage makes as fine a focal point as one could wish for when out and about in the hills of Mid Wales. Seekers of space and solitude will find it here. Yeah, despite being (quite literally) crossed by ‘The Cambrian Way’ long-distance path, I saw no one all day... notwithstanding it being a very hot June.

I did, however, receive a veritable lashing from a rather ‘extended’ summer shower during the ascent... not to mention one or two whilst enjoying a likewise extended sojourn on-site, lost within the melodrama of the all-pervading silence. The views to be had are first-rate, although those to the south penetrating the vastness of ‘Wild Elenydd’ may be too uncompromising for some tastes? If you do choose to come – and I believe the rewards are immense – please don’t take this landscape lightly.

The swirling hill fog which paid a visit at one point eventually moved on to leave a fine afternoon. Nevertheless, I kept my compass bearing at the ready, just in case. These are NOT hills to be caught out in mist.

There is a standing stone about four miles away from here. It stands in a field on the right hand side of the road as you go to Derry. The ground on which it stands belongs to William McDaid, who purchased the land a year ago from a man named Johnson. It is situated in the townland of Ardmore, Muff, in the parish of Iskaheen, Co. Donegal. It consists of a rectangular block of regular shape and is about seven feet high, four feet wide, and about two feet deep. It stands exactly on its end. The side facing the South is indented with little cup-like insertions, with a sort of rings or halo around them and about two inches out from them.

The late Mr Hart who lived at Kilderry Castle (once the residence of Sir Cahir O’Doherty) employed a number of men and got them to dig around the stone to see if they could unearth a grave or other, which might account for its being there. The earth that they dug out was carefully examined, but nothing was found, only two large iron balls resembling cannon balls but much larger.

Collected by Hugh C. Byrne, for the Schools Collection of folklore in the 1930s.

First stop of what turns out to be a seriously FULL day exploring the many sites in the immediate locale.... and quite a good, upstanding hors d’oeuvres, if the truth be told. So much so that in any other situation I no doubt would have stayed for several hours. Quality vibe and substantial, if overgrown, cairn. Yeah, I do discern evidence of stonework within the thick, grassy mantle... so let’s go with that.

Coflein reckons:

“Reported both as a round barrow and a cairn. Excavated in 1924, uncovering a stone kerb and yielding 16 fragments of urn”. [J.Wiles 12.02.02]

Access is easy since the (very) minor road passes close by.

Almost – but not quite – visited when I last ventured this-a-way in April 2019, one of those peculiar event associations with a particular tune (in this case Ladytron’s ‘Figurine’) ensures the quartet of cairns said to reside here niggle away at the back of the mind.... until, well, here I finally am.

First things first, it has to be conceded that the location is not (now, at any rate) classic, the cairns standing beside a transmitter station featuring, as these places tend to do, a couple of large antennae. Furthermore, the terrain surrounding/separating the monuments is churned to buggery, with sundry farm detritus adding to the sense of ‘couldn’t give a shit land’. Shame on all those responsible, should they have the brains to appreciate anything at all.

It, therefore, comes as a welcome surprise to find the cairns themselves are in relatively good nick, the pick of the bunch that bearing an OS trig pillar at SN5348039490. This, Coflein notes, represents:

“One of a group of four cairns, aligned NNE-SSE, at c.35m intervals across formerly open, high moorland, 22m in diameter & 1.9m high, having a flat top set with an OS trig. pillar: formerly marked the meeting point of three parishes (Llanybyther, Llanllwni & Llanfihangel Rhos-y-Corn).” [J.Wiles 03.09.04]

OK, the most northerly monument is pretty ravaged, having been extensively’ hollowed-out at some point in the past, but the accompanying pair to the south of the main monument are still pretty upstanding. Factor in the sweeping views to the north-west across the Teifi and, dodgy surroundings notwithstanding, this remains a good place to be

Easily accessed from the nearby single-track road, I wasn’t sure what to make of this, to be honest. ‘Ring cairn’, heavily denuded round cairn... or even an ‘enclosure’ of some description? In my defence, Coflein would appear to be in a similar dilemma:

“A rough circular bank of stones, c.17.5m in diameter, having an OS triangulation pillar at its centre.” [RCAHMW AP965050/66. J. Wiles 30.09.03]

Whatever the truth, the 360-degree views are extensive, the skies massive. However, given the abundance of other sites in the locale, this is (arguably) not somewhere to linger for that long... but nevertheless worth checking out.

A little under a mile to the approx northeast of the wondrous Crugyn Amlwg, this equally impressive (and overgrown) round cairn is much easier to visit, being but a short distance from the road and serviced by a ‘parking area’. Hey, it’s even signposted from said facility – although that’s not to say we’re talking ‘honey pot’ site here... far, far from it.

High summer, naturally, is not the optimum time to come if one wishes to avoid industrial-strength bramble and other troublesome vegetation. However, given the sheer volume of obscure sites waiting to be seen within Mid Wales, such advice is no doubt superfluous. Take your opportunities when you can, I say...

Coflein reckons: “A centrally disturbed, circular mound, 12m in diameter & 1.5m high”. [RCAHMW AP965050/65 J.Wiles 01.10.03]

So, c5ft high? Seemed more to me, to be fair

Possibly the (quite literally) hidden jewel in the area’s crown, this large round cairn slumbers – out of sight, out of mind – within forestry now the location of a wind farm. Coflein, to be fair, doesn’t give much to go on:

“A circular mound, c.32m in diameter, showing traces of disturbance” RCAHMW AP965050/64 – [J.Wiles 01.10.03]

Indeed, for me, it is the height of this substantial monument that is the salient factor here. One is left imagining what the scene would’ve been like, sans the trees? No doubt sweeping views etc. As it is, however, the ‘forestry clearing’ vibe is pretty intense, the surrounding foliage obscuring the nearby wind turbines towering overhead.

I approached heading south from the minor road allowing access to Blaen Gwyddgny... good idea to bring along a 1:25k map since the forestry ride is pretty overgrown and obscure. But then it would be, wouldn’t it?

Out of range when gazing across from Carn Wen a couple of years back now, last year’s visit to the wondrous ‘circle upon Bryn y Gorlan made this a must-see this time around. Well, I ain’t getting any younger – and these Mid Walian sites really do take some attitude to reach for the not-so-young. Tell me about it.

OK, the initial ascent from the road head at Allt Ty-Llwyd to the south may be upon a firm-then-grassy track... but then the map depicts Cors y Crug between said track and Crug Siarls itself. Yeah, consider: when the OS see fit to name a bog it is usually with bloody good reason! As it is, a lack of recent rainfall, corresponding to perceived conditions underfoot, tempts me to cut the corner of my intended wide swing around to the north. Sure enough, the bog isn’t much in evidence... but the industrial strength Mid Walian ‘tufty’ grass very, very much is. Floundering in the heat compounded by extreme exertion, I’m cursing my poor judgement at being suckered in like a muppet tourist, when I suddenly strike a quad bike track doubling back to cross the hill’s south-western flank. That’ll do. My intention all along, naturally.

Ascending to the summit, I’m still none the wiser regarding the position of this elusive stone circle even when accorded the aerial viewpoint. Suffice to say, the ring sits upon the lower western flank alongside an associated small(ish) cairn. Look for a wooden post immediately to the left (south-ish) for your cue. Should you choose to come, of course.

Coflein reckons the monument is definitely a stone circle:

“A small stone circle, consisting of 14 stones, the largest of which is 0.50 metres square, and positioned on its southern side. All the stones are set upright into the ground. Much of the site is obscured by reed growth.” [R.P. Sambrook, Trysor, 20 March 2012]

The eastern arc is heavily overgrown with the aforementioned reeds, but, crucially, remains in situ. The orthostats are also pretty large for a Mid Walian ‘circle. Yeah, so here we have a relatively intact stone circle with a vibe so intense as to sink a thousand punters within its protective bog. Truly, a classic location. Just refrain from cutting any corners if it has been raining, you hear?

... The figure is not always visible; he is most often to be seen in bright summer mornings and evenings, or during the winter, when there is a hard frost, or a slight fall of snow. Sometimes you may see the giant distinctly half a mile off, but on approaching the spot the turf appears as smooth as on the adjacent hills.

[...] We may add that this remarkable figure is about to be restored, and that the vicar of Glynde, near Lewes, Sussex, is treasurer to the Restoration Fund, which has been headed by the Duke of Devonshire. Small subscriptions of half-a-crown are solicited in preference to larger sums, so as to excite a widely-extended interest. The first sod for the restoration has already been turned by Mr Phene, but the work has been suspended for a time to allow persons interested to see it in its original condition.

The Graphic, 7th February 1874. The campaign seem to have progressed at some pace, as the newspapers in April report that the outline had been completely restored (with white bricks).

White Horse Hill, Berks, 1780.

The Scowering and Cleaning the White Horse is fixed for WHIT MONDAY, the 15th Day of May, on which Day, a SILVER CUP will be run for, near the White Horse Hill, by PONIES that never started for any Thing; and to be the actual Property of Persons belonging to the County of Berks; the best of three Two-Mile Heats. To start at Ten o’ Clock.

The same Time, A THILL HARNESS will be run for by Cart Horses, &c. in their Harness and Bells, the Carters to ride in Smock Frocks without Saddles. Crossing and jostling, but no Whipping allowed.

A FLITCH of BACON to be run for by ASSES.

A good HAT to be run for by MEN in SACKS; every Man to bring his own Sack.

A WAISTCOAT, 10s. 6d. Value, to be given to the Person who shall take a Bullet out of a Tub of Flour with his Mouth in the shortest Time.

Several CHEESES to be run for down the White Horse Manger.

SMOCKS to be run for by Ladies; the second-best of each Prize to be entitled to a Silk Hat.

CUDGEL-PLAYING for a GOLD-LACED HAT and a Pair of BUCKSKIN BREECHES, and WRESTLING for a Pair of SILVER BUCKLES and a Pair of PUMPS.

A JINGLING MATCH by eleven blindfolded Men, and One unmasked with Bells, for a Pair of BUCKSKIN BREECHES.

A GRINNING MATCH through a Horse’s Collar for Five Shillings.

An APPLE to be taken out of a Tub of Water for Five Shillings.

Riding down the Hill upon Horses Jaw Bones, for 2s 6d.

And sundry other Rural Amusements.

(The Horses to be on the Hill, and entered by Nine o’Clock. – No less than four Horses, &c. or Asses to start for any of the above Prizes.)

Oxford Journal, 13th May 1780.

Cairnconan’s Famous Pictish Dwelling. A summer evening ramble. (From a Correspondent).

[...] Cairnconan Hill is by far the highest point in the district. Looking backward from the top of the hill the sea, the steeple, the water tower, and the chimney stacks of Arbroath stand out against the horizon. The Law Hill, Parkhill, and Lunan Bay can easily be traced, and still further eastward we can trace Bolshan Hill and the braes of Rossie. From the top of the hill on a clear day portions of no fewer than five counties can be seen, the range extending as far as the Firth of Forth with the faint outline of the Lammermoor Hills in the far distance. From the same point the Grampian range of mountains seem but a short distance away, but the light is deceptive and in reality they are a long way off. Dark Lochnagar is far away dimly outlined against the northern skyline. [...]

The farmer of West Grange related an amusing story to us about the ancient dwelling place. Almost every year it is visited by many more or less interested visitors. The interior of the weem or house is concave, the stones overlapping each other. The entrance at the top is very narrow only allowing the entrance of a sparely built man, and the depth of the floor of the dwelling is about 8 feet from the door or opening.

One day a number of years ago a visitor of rather small stature rather imprudently ventured to descend into the cavity. When it came to the getting out he found to his consternation that it was quite impossible for him to reach the top. He howled himself hoarse, and might have stayed there for a long time as the “house” is seldom visited and is at a considerable distance from the roadway. However by means of piling up a quantity of loose stones that had fallen down into the interior of the dwelling place he managed to scramble out.

The moral of all this is – don’t visit the “Pict’s house” at Cairnconan unless accompanied by friends and don’t venture into places that you do not see some way of getting out of.

Mr Garland also informed us that the “house” is now very much diminished in size from its original state. It was at one time connected with another chamber by a long narrow passage covered with flagstones, but this interior chamber is now filled up and is not open to visitors.

Arbroath Herald, 23rd July 1920.

A group of students, working through the night on the Sussex Downs, north of Brighton, have cut a 200ft reclining figure of a woman in the chalk face of Wolstonbury Hill, which overlooks the main London to Brighton road. The students used shovels, picks and garden tools to cut the figure in the turf.
One of them said today :“The famous Long Man of Wilmington, near Eastbourne, was getting lonely so we thought it time to provide him with a mate.”
The students hold their annual rag day at Brighton on Saturday.

Devon Echo, 14th October 1959.

Along the Ythan valleys, archaeologists have identified cairns, stone circles and cists, many destroyed or badly damaged in previous centuries by farmers and builders before their importance was understood. Most standing stones suffered a similar fate, but one of these “menhirs”, the Candle Stone, persists at Drumwhindle. On the Hill of Logie, about a mile downstream from Ellon, evidence of round, stone-built huts from the Iron Age is clearly visible. And further downstream near the estuary, a village from that same period has been unearthed (unsanded?) at Forvie. A stone circle of unknown purpose stood on the riverbank near Aldi’s current location at the charmingly named Pinkie Park. The 3ft high stones are still visible upstream on the riverbank, though sadly not in the original circle. And if you visit the Prop of Ythsie, take a look at the stone circle known as Druid Temple, started around 3000 years ago, when the third phase of Stonehenge was under constructon.

elloncentral.com/ellonhistory.html

Long Meg is now 12 feet high. Camden said “15” but Mr Robin Collingwood reminds me that this was Camden’s conventional figure; when he was in doubt as to an exact statement he put down 15. Various authors, not measuring for themselves, have simply followed him. Hutchinson’s 18 feet I take to be a misprint for 15.

Todd, who first reduced the height to 12 feet, mentioned that the stone was hollow at the top, “like a dish or a Roman altar”; and Gough repeated this. What it really is like was found by Mr George Watson, who got a ladder and climbed up to see. He found a V-shaped groove running across the stone in a northerly direction, very broken and jagged, as if it had been struck by lightning. Possibly the stone was thus injured between Camden’s time and Todd’s – the greater part of a century. Probably, however, Camden overstated the height.

At any rate the stone was not hollowed at the top to serve as an altar, or to make the Danish King’s seat less insecure.

A reminder to do one’s own research, even if it means remembering a ladder. From a report of a meeting of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian Society, in the ‘Penrith Observer’, 26th July 1921.

Mystery mine of Ivinghoe where ancient Britons worked flints. Amazing finds.

For 3,000 years travellers on the ancient Icknield Way threw anything they did not want into an old flint mine by the roadside. Long centuries of rubbish gradually filled it up, the top caved in, and eventually all trace of the mine was lost. Recent work in laying a waterpipe has revealed this storehouse of the centuries, and the discoveries made there bid fair to cause acute controversy amongst archaeologists.

Sheltered beneath the bluff face of Ivinghoe Beacon – the gaunt spur of the Chilterns overlooking the vale of Aylesbury – runs the ancient Icknield Way, and into its stones is knit the history of Southern England. Today a reporter followed again the road which once resounded to the martial tramp of Roman legions. Since the dawn of Britain’s history travellers have stopped at this point. Today they still do so, and but a stone’s throw away is the old mine.

To Mr W. Cobell, the one-armed garage man, these remarkable discoveries are due. Badly wounded in the War, an open-air job was necessary to keep him fit, and he now contrives to combine making a living with his hobby of archaeology. Mr Cobell led the way to the old shaft, half-hidden between a hawthorn hedge. Forty feet down into the solid chalk this old mine sinks into what was once a rich seam of fine flints. Four feet across, it is just wide enough for a man to straddle his legs. That revealed how the ancient miners ascended and descended probably 3,000 years ago. A series of footholds had been cut on either side of the shaft, and today young Sam, the enthusiastic excavator and purveyor, clambered down in the same old way, disdaining the modern rope and tackle. With an electric torch he illuminated its gloomy depths – the bottom is not yet reached – and showed where another tunnel leads away into the heart of the hill.

At the bottom of the shaft a magnificent flint axe with a giant left-handed grip has been found. There were also other rude weapons and arrow heads of flint, flakes and chippings, spear points, bones of animals, and similar traces of the ancient British village which once occupied the site. “These were the people who dug the mine and worked it until the flints ran out,” Mr Cobell said. “Then it was just left open and became the rubbish pit for anyone passing by on the road.” Above the prehistoric debris came traces of the Roman occupation of Britain. A roof tile of unmistakeable Roman make and a chimney tile bear the footprints of a dog that walked over them while they were wet and drying in the sun. Its footmarks can still be seen. A bronze coin of the Roman period has also been found, but its exact date has yet to be determined. Vast quantities of pottery of the early Iron Age were mixed in indescribable confusion with Roman wares, Anglo-Saxon wares, and pottery of successive peoples down to the fine medieval glazes. Fragments of 16th and 17th century glazes lying on top of all this accumulation have definitely been identified.

A few yards away is another curious hole made by these prehistoric miners. It may have been the floor where the flints were worked. The tremendous number of flakes found suggest that it was, but it was also the scene of a great fire, for which there is no explanation at present. Charred bones, burnt wood, and scores of flints scorched and split by intense heat are still there. Mr Edward Holis, curator of the Buckinghamshire County Museum at Aylesbury, said: “I know of nothing in England like this mine, if mine it be. The variety of the debris from so many periods of history is amazing, and until the site has been fully examined by experts it is impossible to say what is the real solution.”

In the ‘Gloucester Citizen’, 25th August 1932.

Now, The Citizen Cairn must declare upfront that this is not the sort of site I would normally seek out... set within the grounds of an idyllic hotel and considered a ‘romantic’ venue for wedding parties to pose for snaps after ‘the event’. Yeah, “Oh, this one’s me and Britney about to fall to our deaths... doesn’t she, like, look, like lush, innit?” Yeah, OK, one has to pay an entrance fee and enter through a locked gate as – to judge by the not-so-modern graffiti carved into the sandstone – have many, many before me.... but I have to say this is actually a rather fabulous place.

Consider: not only are the sandstone crags (the ‘High Rocks’) impressive in stature; they are also the site of a number of later Mesolithic shelters which one can explore, albeit a bit boggy underfoot in places. Furthermore, the crags, themselves, form the northwestern flank of a multi-phase Iron Age hillfort perched above. As it was, I couldn’t make out a great deal of the ‘landward’ defences of the promontory, but nevertheless, this is a thought-provoking, aesthetically appealing place.

The sandstone crags are interconnected by a high-level ‘aerial walkway’, a rather unique feature... although if you’re bringing children along ensure you enforce the same restrictions as for hill walks: needless to say, a slip could have potentially fatal consequences. Just like for our Gaz and Britney.

I’m glad HornbyPorky’s fieldnotes say the graffiti is gone. I thought I’d add this to show the indignities have been going on for a while. I hope when McDonalds crumbles these stones will still be here.

On Saturday, the Greater Edinburgh Club, under the leadership of Mr Sterling Craig, visited “Edinburgh’s Stonehenge,” a group of four large stones at Lochend, opposite the point where the new Glasgow road branches off the old road to Broxburn. For 4000 years these megaliths have stood like the peak of a submerged mountain rising out of the ocean of prehistoric darkness, but testifying to the existence of a lost continent.

Local tradition says that there was originally an avenue of standing stones, 350 yards long, crossed by a shorter double row of megaliths about 80 yards from its western end. A Bronze Age burial ground, 30 yards in diameter, of much later date, has been erected in the northern part of the crossing. The eastmost megalith is eleven feet high and three to four feet broad, and the others are about six feet in height, standing at the souther, western, and northern extremities of the crossing avenues.

The unity of the monument is now difficult to recognise, because it is broken by a deep railway cutting and a wide road. The terminal megalith (now in a piggery) is obscured from the rest by a large advertisement hoarding, but it undoubtedly belongs to the same period as Stonehenge and was erected by the same fogotten race.

In The Scotsman, 23rd May 1938.

Well, I was a bit at a loss as to what ‘designation’ to apply to this one – isn’t it curious how we humans always have the need to define things? – seeing as that shameful qualifier ‘Destroyed’ seems most inappropriate here.

To attempt to clarify/explain: it would seem – or at least appear highly likely to me – that once upon a time, the natural feature that is Barrow Hill was crowned by an earthen barrow covering a cist. Kent’s HER informs us that: “As the result of denudation of a burial mound of marsh turf, the outline of a  collapsed oblong cist of Kentish ragstone was visible on Higham Marshes. It was excavated in 1880 by Mr E.L.Arnold and found to contain a crouched skeleton (very crushed) accompanied by 79 beads which lay as if they had originally been around the neck. the beads were Porosphaera globularis (a fossil sponge common in the Upper Chalk and taking a globular form), ranging from 7 to 26 mm. in diameter and naturally perforated. The mound stood on a gravelly hillock which probably stood out of the water when all the surrounding district was swamp”.

Now, although there appears to be no conclusive proof that Barrow Hill was the location of said cist, the fact that: 1) Barrow Hill is the only such feature (as described) in the locality; 2) The locals saw fit to name the place ‘Barrow Hill’... suggests it is a pretty good bet.

So, should one focus upon the destroyed round barrow that once was... or the natural feature that simply HAD to be the site for it back then? Sacred Hill seems fair enough, don’t you think?

The HER record is here:
heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=416875&resourceID=19191

Site 16 in the Anglezarke and Rivington Moors – Archaeological Survey 1986.
“This is a relatively well defined cairn in an area of peat erosion. It comprises small to medium field stones, some of which are earthfast. There is a possible kerb. It is in the vicinity of the PRN 4064 flake working area. Size: length 1.7m width 1.7m height 0”