Parndon Hall Mounds

Round Barrow(s)
TL440103

Also known as:

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Nearest town:

Harlow (1km N)

OS reference:

TL440103

OS sheet:

167

Latitude:

51° 46' 20.34 N

Longitude:

0° 5' 14.34 E

Added to TMA by

Rhiannon

Images (1)
Fieldnotes (1)
Miscellaneous (1)
Links (1)

Images

Image of Parndon Hall Mounds (Round Barrow(s)) by Orifrog

This is the southern barrow – just off a footpath that leads from the road to the hospital.

Image credit: Nik Barrall

Orifrog May 12, 2013

Articles

Parndon Hall Mounds

Round Barrow(s)

Orifrog May 12, 2013

The southern barrow is easy to find. There’s a heavily used footpath that passes right next to it, yet because of its proximity to the hospital, it seems to have been left alone, with just the odd beer can at the top. It looks to be in good condition, although I don’t suppose the trees will do much good.

To get to it, turn into Hamstel Road, park in the little multi-storey car park in Wych Elm, then cross Hamstel Road and you’ll see a metalled footpath/ cycle path that leads into Princess Alexandra Hospital. Walk along it a few yards and you’ll see the barrow on your left.

I had a look for the other two barrows. I couldn’t find them, but suspect they may be in the small wood a few hundred yards further down Hamstel Road, on the right. It was mid-May and very overgrown, so I couldn’t really explore (nice bluebells, though).

Parndon Hall Mounds

Round Barrow(s)

Rhiannon Apr 21, 2006

There are three round barrows close to the hospital in Harlow – I wonder how recognisable they’ll be to a keen eye. I’m intrigued by the subspecies of the urban barrow. I wonder if they’ll be camouflaged, abused or carefully mown...

There’s one 110m NE of the hospital at TL442101 (said to be 25m diameter, 2m high); another is 140m N of the hospital at TL440103 (14m d, 1m h); the third is 230m N, at TL440104 (20m d, 1.3m high).