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Round Hill (Roxton)

Round Barrow(s)

<b>Round Hill (Roxton)</b>Posted by robokidImage © Nigel Rogers
Nearest Town:St Neots (7km NNE)
OS Ref (GB):   TL148550 / Sheet: 153
Latitude:52° 10' 50.96" N
Longitude:   0° 19' 14.77" W

Added by Rhiannon


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<b>Round Hill (Roxton)</b>Posted by robokid <b>Round Hill (Roxton)</b>Posted by robokid

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Now stuck in an area I initially left 15 years ago, and in desperate need of trying to straighten my head and connect somehow with the ancestors, I located Round Hill and went to get pictoral documentation.

Since I left the area, the A421 has been built and lies close by. The best way of getting to the site is to turn off the Black Cat roundabout just after St.Neots to the turning for Roxton (between the A! exit and the A421 to Bedford) then turn right over the A421 flyover (Roxton Road). Just on the other side is a large area where you can park safely then walk. A disused road takes you round the edge of the sandy coloured wheat fields and then along the other side of the A421 embankment.

The Hill is quite large, and riddled with Rabbit holes. On its top are a cluster of planted Alder trees, some still with their rabbit guards in place. I have found little in the way of documentation about the site, only being able to go on what Rhiannon has added, that it remains unexcavated.

Looking out, the landscape rolls very gently and you can see the mound is situated on a slightly higher plane than everything else. In a North Easterly direction I saw hillside rising with a wooded area in the distance, which within the setting of the landscape I think could hold some historic interest. Despite the fact that arial photography shows one of these patches (Alington Hill) to be circular, I have yet to find any documentation supporting a history.

I sat on the burial mound looking out, and my ancestors gave me the realisation I had been missing. With a sense of sorrow, but a lighter heart, I was able to leave, thankful for the help.
Posted by robokid
9th August 2010ce
Edited 14th August 2010ce

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Why is it you never notice places on your own doorstep? This is quite close to where I grew up, but I'd never heard of it. The Round Hill is a 'conspicuous local landmark' amongst the agricultural fields according to information on 'magic.gov'. It's said to measure about 21m in diameter, approximately 1.7m, with steep sloping sides and a level summit 10m across. It's apparently close to its original height.

It sounds quite interesting because it's never been excavated, and is really well preserved compared to other sites in the area (in the 1970s five nearby barrows were lost when the land was quarried, they contained burials from 1800BCE)*. Personally I didn't even know there were any barrows visible in this area. The Round Hill is part of a whole complex of sites that flanked the Great Ouse here - the Round Hill is itself quite close to the junction of the Ivel and the Ouse. Although the barrow is on comparatively higher ground, I suppose the floodplain would have been (and is) very fertile land, which would have been attractive to the people who settled here.
In my enthusiasm I really wanted to think those people could have paddled up the river to see their mates at Flag Fen. But of course the river through Peterborough is actually the Nene, and not the Ouse at all. Nice idea though, dimwit.

*details here:
http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MBD617&resourceID=1014
Rhiannon Posted by Rhiannon
8th July 2003ce
Edited 9th August 2010ce