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Round Barrow(s)
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Just to elaborate on Pure Joy's story, (more details of which are given in J+C Bord's 'Secret Country'). A warning so you don't go wasting your time the same way. Perhaps we can put events down to the activities of the fairies mentioned before.
There was once a rich local man who decided he was going to have the treasure hidden in one of these barrows. He was probably rich enough already - but he was greedy. Besides, he could afford to pay some poor people to dig for him - and it would be worth the outlay. The hired workmen began early in the morning, but after a hard day's slog of digging trenches and carting the soil away, it seemed the barrow was no smaller. Feeling confused, they put some stakes in the ground to mark where they'd got to, and hurried off home for the night.
The next morning they returned and were bemused to find no trace of the previous day's labour. Were they in the right place? They couldn't find the trenches or piles of earth they'd made anywhere. Gorse and grass grew over the mound as before. The workmen had had enough of this weirdness - they chucked their tools down and headed for home. The rich man reluctantly decided he'd have to start digging for himself. After all, if you want a job doing properly - those superstitious paupers couldn't even dig a simple hole. Rolling up his shirtsleeves he set about digging. He was unused to the exertion but concentrated on the task in hand, seeing nothing but the shovelfuls of earth he carried - thinking of the treasure kept him pretty motivated. At last he decided it was time for a break and downing his spade mopped his sweaty face with his handkerchief. As he took the handkerchief away from his eyes - he could hardly believe it. Where he'd been working - no hole existed at all. The grass and daisies waved in the breeze mockingly. He realised here was nothing he could do but angrily admit defeat as he stomped off back down the hill.
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Posted by Rhiannon
15th July 2004ce
Edited 3rd April 2016ce
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