Overton Down

Nearest town:
Marlborough (6km E)
OS reference:
SU129709
OS sheet:
173
Latitude:
51° 26' 11.17 N
Longitude:
1° 48' 51.82 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Last time I came here was Autumn Equinox, so it’s lovely to come in a golden Midwinter evening.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.12.2020)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Oct 3, 2021
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

The excellent southern cairn, one of my favourite sites in the wider Avebury landscape.

Image credit: A. Brookes (19.12.2020)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Oct 3, 2021
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking west across West Overton 9 barrow. Avebury is in the middle distance to the left of shot.

Image credit: A. Brookes (22.9.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 28, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

West Overton 9, to the north of the Herepath and next to the Ridgeway, which runs along the fence line in the shot.

Image credit: A. Brookes (22.9.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 28, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking towards West Woods, where I started this walk several hours earlier.

Image credit: A. Brookes (22.9.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 28, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

The southern cairn, autumn Equinox. Over the course of two visits this year, this site has become one of my favourite places in the Avebury landscape.

Image credit: A. Brookes (22.9.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 28, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Came across this splendid sarsen on the walk from Down Barn to the southern Overton Down cairn, which can be seen in the background on the right.

Image credit: A. Brookes (22.9.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 28, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Showing the apparent kerb of the southern barrow, looking towards Cherhill Down.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 16, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Large upright sarsen in the “kerb” of the southern barrow.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 16, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Looking northeast towards Fyfield Down. The Mother’s Jam is out of sight below the crest of the down.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 16, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

The southern barrow, looking west. The sarsen in the foreground is one of several with a natural basin on its top.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 16, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

The southern barrow, placed in one of the best viewpoints in the whole Avebury landscape. The skyline encompasses Milk Hill, Tan Hill, King’s Play Hill, Morgan’s Hill and across towards Cherhill Down.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 16, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

The northern barrow. Although the earthwork itself is very reduced, the setting is very good with far reaching views. Devil’s Den is down there somewhere.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 15, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

The northern barrow, less overgrown than my previous visit but still less than impressive as a monument.

Image credit: A. Brookes (26.3.2017)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Apr 15, 2017
Image of Overton Down (Round Barrow(s)) by thesweetcheat

Unimpressive and overgrown remains of the northern of the two round barrows.

Image credit: A. Brookes (21.5.2011)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 25, 2011

Articles

Miscellaneous

Overton Down
Round Barrow(s)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 27, 2017

West Overton 9 is a further round barrow at SU 12601 71026, situated immediately to the east of the Ridgeway, in a triangular enclosure north of the Herepath.

Pastscape description:

Bronze Age bell or disc barrow West Overton 9 on Overton Down excavated by Merewether in 1849, who found a depression and a small sarsen at the centre. Middle and Late Bronze Age pottery was subsequently recovered from the mound by O. Meyrick. Excavations in 1960 located a primary cremation in pottery vessel, while some Roman pottery was recovered from the ditch. The barrow is still extant as an earthwork, and the cropmark of an external ring ditch has been seen on air photographs.

Miscellaneous

Overton Down
Round Barrow(s)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat May 25, 2011

Two round barrows on the part of Overton Down south of the Herepath. Descriptions from Pastscape:

Northern barrow (SU13007080)

A badly mutilated round barrow, 17 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres high, with a central mutilation which extends down to the ground surface. No trace of a surrounding ditch. The barrow mound is still extant as an earthwork.

Southern barrow (SU13057051)

A mound probably a barrow 10m diameter and 0.6m high, containing many sarsens. The central disturbance may be accounted for by the trig station which formerly stood at or near
this point.

Sites within 20km of Overton Down

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