ruskus

This was not a ‘planned’ visit – I was on the way, with friends, to nearby Houghton Hall, and our sat nav went wayward.
But hey! We ended up at Anmer, and I was aware that there was a long barrow, and a barrow cemetery in the vicinity. As luck would have it, we drove past Harpley Common, where a couple of barrows sit perfectly at the side of the road, just off the Peddars Way.
I stopped, while my wife took a quick pic out of the car window (true amateurs!) – apologies for it’s unglamorous back-drop of pigs....

Anyway, further investigation about the area has made me determined to do it some justice, and explore a wee bit more thoroughly.

I had recently found an old guide book on Grime’s Graves, from the 60’s, by the exotically titled R. Rainbird Clarke, which had prompted me to revisit the site.
I haven’t been here for around nearly a decade, and had forgotten the size of the surrounding area of the flint mines. It truly is quite a striking landscape, hidden deep within the forest.
Firstly I wanted to explore the mound, known as Grimshoe at the eastern edge. This mound found apparently much use later during Saxon times, as a meeting place. In fact understanding how the site had been used through the different periods, reinforced how uniquely important the site is.
I hadn’t realised that the ‘Goddess’ figure found in Pit 15, is now widely thought to be a ‘plant’ to support the debated belief that the mines dated back to the Palaeolithic, which is kind of a shame. It’s an intriguing tale, but would be more so if it were authentic.
With the visit being made on a weekday, late in the lovely sunny afternoon, with virtually no one else there, made it well worth the trip.

A decade ago, whilst doing a 10 week archaeology evening course at the local college, we came to this barrow one evening.

I remember it’s near some properties, but I’d forgotten that it sits at the bottom of someone’s actual garden (although sloping upwards from house to hill). The mound and house sit next to a byway, so approach is easy.

As the owner was busy in the garden, I thought I’d ask if he minded me observing/taking pictures. After a few polite queries about why I was interested we struck up conversation about the barrow’s history. I think he had to check out that I wasn’t some ‘treasure hunter’, as he said nothing of value was in it – which struck me as kinda sad to have to worry that I might be up to no good (I’d have done the same, but....). Said I was welcome to see it closer. (unfortunately a few panoramic shots didn’t work on my cheap old camera, but got a couple, so...).

Anyway, nice guy, and a brilliant barrow; quite enigmatic in it’s current location, with the trees adding to the drama somehow.

Wish I had one in my garden.....better than fairies....

You wouldn’t suspect much to be here, really, but this roughly rectangular patch of heath has some surprises. Despite passing nearby here on a regular basis for most of my life, I never thought of stopping to explore. Maybe I didn’t consider it ‘important’ or ‘showy’ enough? It’s hardly Avebury now is it..

Closer examination of the nearby locality reveals close proximity of the Angles Way, a very close Roman road, and several other tasty morsels.

Anyway, I parked half way along the road which passes through Broome, at the sign for the fishing pits, and walked off to the left (SW) corner. Here I stumbled across a small barrow, which didn’t appear noted on my map, though has a identification board by it. About a third of it disappears under the fences of some back gardens -(got me wondering how much can/do these people dig on their side when gardening – a bit of blood, fish & bone...and grave goods!).

Then headed up the east side of the heath past the large Neolithic enclosure, which is fairly undecipherable under bushes and scrub, but large enough to note. Walking back towards the middle of the heath, brought me to a larger round barrow, and just beyond that is the long barrow. This runs NE-SW, with the NE end being easier to view. Apparently it aligns to the centre of the nearby enclosure, though it is hard to fathom. There seems to be a slope down (to a ditch?) which runs parallel with the SE side, which if viewed from a way away gives the impression that the long barrow is very large indeed, or sitting on a great mound.

Well, well....I’m glad I did check it out, and I feel I may well be back often.

Somewhat sad and lonely stone, sitting defiant between the busy road and the lay-by. Hard to connect with it’s surroundings, really, but as Norfolk and Suffolk have very little in the way of standing stones (!), I’ll take this one.

I don’t know whether Boudicca rests here, or one of the more famous sites claimed, but I would like to believe so.

There are several barrows around here on the Norfolk/Suffolk border (including the nearby Soldier’s Hill – another reckoned Boudicca site..), and this is my favourite.

It is close to home, and it is easily visible from the passing car heading along the Diss to Thetford road. When driving past you sweep down into the dip of the Devil’s Ditch, which gives the area an enclosed feel, and highlights the enigmatic barrow which juts out from the nearby trees of Home Covert, on Garboldisham Heath.