Details of barrow on Pastscape
SK 45230116. A circular turf-covered mound, 1.3m. high, is located in level pasture at 130.0m. O.D. The mound is 13.0m. in diameter, and is surrounded by a slight ditch 0.2m. deep and 0.8m. wide. The base of the mound is surrounded by mature oak trees. No evidence of any structure is visible on the mound, and it may be the remains of a bowl barrow.
Surveyed on 1:2500 M.S.D. (1)
Details of barrow on Pastscape
An Early Bronze Age round barrow at Piper Hole Farm, Eaton excavated in 1979 following recognition that the site was suffering from plough damage. Four concentric ring ditches were present. The innermost was 3 metres wide, 1 metre deep and up to 17 metres in diameter. It had a causeway 1 metre wide on its south western side. The outermost of the four ditches was 40 metres in diameter, 4 metres wide and 0.9 metres deep. The central area contained three or four burials, all stratigraphically linked. The earliest was a cremation in a small wooden coffin, and was accompanied by a small flint flake.
A rectangular pit which disturbed this first interment contained traces of an oak coffin plus fragments of human teeth. It is assumed that an inhumation was present, but did not survive in the acidic soil conditions. A shallow pit cutting this second grave contained an adult cremation, a flint flake and a sherd of Beaker pottery. A radiocarbon date of 1500+/-70 bc (uncalibrated) was obtained from charcoal in the pit. Finally, a fourth possible burial comprised a shallow pit containing some fragmentary bone. 161 stake holes were found, the majority within the area enclosed by the second ditch, the majority cutting the backfilled inner ditch. The excavations also produced a small quantity of Beaker and Early Bronze Age potsherds, a quantity of flints, and over 1900 sherds of Romano-British potsherds recovered from ploughsoil above and adjacent areas.
Details of barrow on Pastscape
SP 473 886 Peek and Parsons note circular cropmarks on aerial photographs.
A mound or tumulus is shown on Stukeley’s drawing of the area in 1722.
This barrow was excavated revealing an inhumation burial. (1)
Details of barrows on Pastscape
(SK 41410063) Tumulus (NR) (1)
“Sutton Cheney. Bone pin found in a disturbed barrow opened by Sir John Evans in 1851”. (2)
Peek and Parsons state that there are two ounds at Sutton Cheney, SK 414006, both visited on the ground. They say that the one south west of the road to Bosworth (SK 41410063) is the tumulus opened by Evans. Daniell however believes the find came from the barrow to the north east of the road at SK 414008, which was ploughed in 1955. The bone pin, Early Bronze Age, is in the Ashmolean Museum. (3-4)
Small circular tree covered mound, probably the barrow referred to by Daniell, visible to the north east of the road at SK 41420081. (5)
A: SK 41410063 An irregular tree covered mound with a maximum height of 1.3m, landscaped, and forming an integral part of a large formal garden; the north east quadrant is cut obliquely by the Sutton Cheyney – Market Bosworth road. No ditch is evident and the feature cannot be recognised as a burial mound; however the cutting (for a very early road) gives proof of some antiquity and it is scheduled as a round barrow.
Published survey 1:2500 correct.
B: SK 41410079 A round barrow previously tree covered but now under a cereal crop. The feature has a maximum diameter of 26.0m and a maximum height of 0.2m; there is no evidence of a ditch. Surveyed on MSD at 1:2500.
Both barrows are situated at 125.0m OD in open positions on high ground. The farmer could offer no useful information and it cannot now be stated which barrow produced the pin. (6)
SK 4141 0062. Bowl barrow at Sutton Cheney. The barrow is about 2m high and is flat topped. Truncating by the road on the east and lanscaping on the north has left the barrow with a square appearance measuring circa 20m on each side. There is no indication of a surrounding ditch. A second barrow located 150m to the north does not survive well and is not included in the scheduling. Scheduled (RSM) No 17081. (7)
Details of barrow on Pastscape
(SK 61631060) Tumulus (site of) (1) “A large round tumulus which I suppose Roman”. (2) A tumulus, now levelled, in which an urn, now in Leicester Museum, was found. It was situated at a place called Round Hill where the road to Barkby turned off the Fosse Way. (3) VCH has listed this item under both Roman and Bronze Age. The illustration is of a Bronze Age cinerary urn with cremation. (4) A description and illustration of the Bronze Age urn. (5) No trace of this barrow is now to be seen. The MBA urn is in Leics Museum. (6)
Details of site on Pastscape
SP 468893. Triple ditch circle, 1/2mile north-west of High Cross -? Henge monument. Not visisted in the field by Peck or Parsons. Nothing visible on RAF air photographs. (1) The indicated site is under crop; there is no evidence of the feature on the surface and no finds were made. (2) SP 469894. Round barrow 820m east of Smockington Hollow, Scheduled. (3)
SP 4694 8938. Bowl barrow at Wigston Parva, roughly circular, about 60m in diameter following plough spread and 1m high with no visible earthwork ditch. Aerial photography has shown this site to possess four concentric surrounding ditches and it is considered that it represents a multi-phase Bronze Age barrow site. Scheduled. (4)
Details of barrow on Pastscape
SP46698924 Bowl Barrow shown from aerial photographs indicating that the ditches which surround the barrow still survive. The upstanding barrow has been reduced by continued agricultural use. (1)
Details of Barrow on Pastscape
T.157 (marked on map) (3) is a bowl barrow, 80 ft. in diam. 7 ft. in height, with a well marked ditch up to 2 ft. deep and 10 ft. wide, built of stones. This is a bowl barrow 2.4m. high with traces of a ditch 0.2m. deep on its northern side. (Grinsell’s Compton Martin 1.) Surveyed at 1/2500. (5) Additional reference – as 5a. (6) ‘Hazle Barrow’. There has been speculation about the location of this barrow, but a clue in the Liberty Perambulations identifies it as that at ST 5309 5608. (7)
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
The remains of a long barrow, possibly chambered. A fragment of human bone has been found.
[ST 72735173] LONG BARROW [G.T.]. (1) Skinner was informed that three upright stones placed in the form of a triangle, and about as high as the Murtry stones (c.10 ft. ST75 SE 5) were removed from the barrow and broken up for road metalling sometime before this visit in 1819. The barrow appears to be orientated almost due north-south. The southern end has been overlaid by the cause-way of a modern road and the northern part survives as a quite well defined mound 0.8m. high. Recent ploughing shows the mound to be composed of earth with a few small stones. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (2) A fragmennt of human tibia has been recovered from the surface of this barrow. (3) ST 7272 5175: Big Tree, Buckland down, listed as a long barrow. Visited by LV Grinsell 29-Aug-1964. W part arable, E part grass. Site is named from an elm which stood in it until c.1960. The mound now resembles a round barrow but the S end may have been removed when the A362 was made (4) ‘Big tree’ previously known as ‘Madbarrow’ or ‘Modbury’, mentioned by John Strachey, 1730. (5)(6)
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
A Saxon inhumation cemetery recorded on Barrow Hill. The cemetery comprises five or six burials one of which was a inhumation orientated northwest-southeast and accompanied by grave goods included two silver wire rings and amethyst, glass and shell beads. The presence of the amethyst beads dates the burial to the seventh or early eighth century. The cemetery is situated close to the site of a chambered long barrow which was robbed for road materials during the early 19th century. Earthworks, possibly upcast from quarrying, have been described as the remains of a round barrow.
[ST 74875025] ANGLO-SAXON BURIAL GROUND [GT]. (1)
A Pagan Anglo-Saxon burial, probably 6th century, was found in August 1925, in a small quarry on the south side of Barrow Hill, Buckland and Dinham. Four or five other burials have been found previously. The grave was examined by the Rev. Horne in company with A. Buleid. It contained a female skeleton, two rings of fine silver were, possibly earrings, and half a dozen beads in quartz, glass and white shell. The beads were dated by the British Museum. (R.A. Smith). (2)
In addition to the above other human bones were found in June 1923 and earlier (a). These burials have been sited by H. St. G. Grey to ST 74845027 (b), a position that coincides with a small overgrown quarry and is probably more accurate than the O.S. siting. Skinner states that quantities of human bones were found when a ‘vaulted tumulus’ similar to Stoney Littleton (a chambered long barrow, ST 75 NW 16) was robbed for road materials in the early 19th century. This barrow seems to have been situated at the east end of the hill (c), possibly at ST 74825030 where there is a slight, apparently natural, rise at the end of the spur. Wicks records a round barrow, 4 foot 6 inches high and 31 feet in diameter, in a small thorn copse just below the point of the spur and 30 yards from the quarry where Saxon skeletons were found. (c) He is almost certainly referring to an irregular mound 0.9m. high at ST 74875026 which has no ditch and appears to be upcast from nearby surface quarrying. (3) Anglo-Saxon burials – additional reference (4) Barrows – additional references (5-7) Additional reference (8)
Details of hillfort on Pastscape
Earthwork remains of an Iron Age promontory fort or multivallate hillfort . The defences apparently consisted of two parallel banks running NW – SE with a central entrance. About 100 yds. of the outer bank remains at the SE end, and 160 yds. at the NW end. The inner bank, largely complete, is 10-15’ high, with remains of a 4’ – 6’ thick dry stone wall running for a considerable distance from the SE end where there are also traces of a third bank. There is a rectangular earthwork at the outer flank of the NW end. Near the centre of the inner bank a fragment of earthwork, 11 ft. high, extends into the interior of the Camp. A pot of Roman coins ‘mostly Constantine Junior’ (AD 337-40) was dug up at Tedbury in 1691.
Details of hillfort on Pastscape
Earthwork remains of an Iron Age promontory fort or univallate hillfort.
[ST 735489] Wadbury Camp [GT]. (1) Wadbury is a promontory fort situated on the north side of the Mells stream, the steep banks of which form the defences on one side; elsewhere they consist of a 16ft. high bank with ditch, below the counterscarp of which is a revetment of stones. The N-S middle bank, and a low bank to the N.W. of the house [Wadbury] are modern. (2)
Wadbury Camp is situated at the western end of a small ridge. The ground falls away steeply on the north and precipitously on the S & W with a flat approach from the east. On the north only a scarp survives with a stony bank below. On the east is a strong double rampart with vestiges of another which has been considerably altered by the construction of ornamental gardens. A possible entrance exists in the north-west but the outer bank here has been partially destroyed by a farm track. Published survey (25”) revised. (3) Additional references (4)(5) ST 736 489. Wadbury. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 30ha. (6)
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
Two stones representing the remains of a long barrow opened 1803-4 when an primary deposit of human bones and secondary cremations in urns were found.
[ST 76305066] ORCHARDLEIGH STONES [G.T.]. (1)
Recorded by Skinner (2) as a tumulus 50 ft x 36 ft., with two large stones at its east end, one leaning against the other. Excavated by Gray in 1920. The stones were 10 1/2 ft. and 5 1/2ft. high respectively, but set only 18” in the ground, suggesting they were not in situ. A prostrate stone, nearby, was visible at the surface, and several others were revealed by digging. Finds included several flints, many small fragments of R.B. pottery, two Roman coins, and pieces of human bone. [See AO/LP/64/23] (3). Gray concluded that this was the remains of a disturbed chambered long barrow. Daniel, however, doubts very much if “there was ever a burial chamber at this site”. (4) Scheduled as a burial chamber. (5) The two stones, the taller is 3.3m., stand on a slightly raised semi-circular platform, with a bank on the south-west. Two other stones show through the surface. It is not possible by visual inspection to reach any conclusion concerning the nature of the site. See G.P. AO/64/267/3. Surveyed at 1/2500. (6) ST 7628 5069: Long barrow, Murtry Hill. Opened 1803-4, primary? deposit of human bones, secondary? cremations in urns, Large stone W of centre broken just before visit by Skinner (source 2) in 1825. Excavations by Gray (source 3) revealed human remains just W of the entrance and he suspected that the 2 standing stones now at E end may have been placed there c.1800 as a ‘restoration’ (7) Additional references (8)(9)(10)(11)
Details of site on Pastscape
Kingsdown Camp was excavated 1927-9, by H.St. George Gray. The defences consisted of a Pre-Flavian dry stone wall and ‘v’-shaped outer ditch, with a Pre-Belgic-Belgic inner ditch. Roman occupation ceased about Mid – 2nd c. Two paved entrances were found, the original to SSE, and The Roman, to NE, where two post-holes of a gate were revealed. [See plan AO/LP/63/100]
The inner ditch produced a quantitiy of Hod Hill type brooches (c. AD 40-50), hearths and finds of Lake Village type, including two currency bars and bone needles. Also found were an iron dagger (La Tene II), o a Dobunnic silver coin (Eisu), (3), an As. of Domitian, two Dupondii of Hadrian, Pre-conquest and RB.pottery. A feature of the inner ditch was a number of burials relating to the Roman occupation. The outer ditch on pottery evidence, very probably dates to the Claudius – Nero period. various banks and mounds in the area of the camp were examined, but their purpose was not determined. They are composed, very largely, of local stone. RB. sherds and flint flakes were found, also a probably re-interred skeleton, and a considerable amount of iron slag. (2-3)
The occupation site excavated in 1927-9, covers an area of approximately half an acre. The enclosing wall is concealed in a low bank. The surrounding ditch survives only on the north and west but its position is indicated by a darker growth of grass for its full extent. Banks ouside the enclosure suggest associated fields, and very parched grass on top of the bank, and a few exposed stones, indicate walling beneath the surface. Resurveyed at 1:2500. All the finds from the 1927-29 excavations are in Taunton Museum (Acc.No.A 422). See AO/64/273/4. Stereo-photographs AO/64/265/2 and 3 and AO/64/265/4 and 5. (4) Kingsdown Camp is a small Iron Age earthwork enclosure, refortified, curiously, in the late 1st/2nd century AD. (5-6)
Additional references (7)(8)
Details of Cave on Pastscape
Cave located in a cliff just outside Fairy Cave Quarry near Stoke St Michael. It forms part of a complicated system of passages in the quarry area which converge on St Dunstan’s Well, a short distance to the north west. Iron Age potsherds were found at Fairy Cave in 1888, according to one source, and 1929 according to two others. Some potsherds are in Taunton Museum. [ST 65654774] Fairy Cave [T.I.] (1) Iron Age ‘A’ potsherds were found at the mouth of Fairy Cave by Aidan Savage in 1888, and presented to the Downside Archaeological Society. Some of the finds are now in Taunton Museum. (2-3) Fairy Cave is at ST 65654775. The entrance is now barred. Downside School no longer has any finds from the cave. (4)
Details of Barrow on Pastscape
[ST 5772 5036] Barrow – Tratman’s No. 277. (1)
Against the southern side of a wall at ST 57689 50347 are the remains of a bowl barrow 2.9m high. The northern half has been destroyed and there are uncertain traces of a ditch around its south-east quadrant. It is situated at a bend in the parish boundary and Grinsell(a) who lists it as a bowl barrow, (his Chewton Mendip 32) – states that it is called “Fford’s” and “Forge Barrow” respectively in the bounds of St. Cuthbert out (1752) and Chewton Mendip (1760). Surveyed at 1:2500. (2) Bowl barrow at Green Ore. The barrow is referred to as Fford’s or Forge Barrow in 18th century sources. The barrow mound measures 14 metres in diameter and stands up to 2 metres high. Scheduling amended. (4)
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
T 218 – a long barrow on the south side of Pen Hill at an altitude of about 950 Ft., is oriented nearly east and west, has a length of 130 ft., and is square ended with distinct traces of a ditch on the northern side. It is higher and wider at the east end, where it measures 30 ft wide by 5 ft. 5 ins. high. (2) This is a mound 40 metres long and 0.7 metres high with faint traces of a ditch on its northern side and the remains of surface quarrying on its southern side. It is probably, but not certainly, a long barrow. The probable bowl barrow (ST 54 NE 35) at the east end of the mound may originally have been part of the long mound as there are traces of an old trackway between the two mounds. Surveyed at 1/2500. (See ST 54 NE 37). (3) ST 5635 4876: Long barrow with side ditches which are not parallel but widen towards the SW. Listed by Grinsell as St Cuthbert Out I. (5) ST 5634 4868. A Neolithic long barrow located below the crest of Pen Hill. It is 44 metres in length, an average of 13 metres wide and up to 2 metres high. A later round barrow (UID 196928) lies 3 metres to the east. Scheduled.
Details of the Hillfort on Pastscape
This is an Iron Age, bivallate, contour hill fort enclosing about seven acres. The inner bank is mostly 5ft. high but increases to 10ft. at the east end of the camp. There are entrances on the S.E. and N.W. and the latter appears to be original. It formerly had an outturned bank on its S. side. Gray (3) believes the S.E. gap to be original, and here the bank shows traces of a stone core. Also on the S.E. is a much ploughed down bank, (H-I), [See Illustrations Card] about 1ft. high by 10ft. wide, with a shallow outer ditch; it appears to be an outwork. (2-4) Maesbury, a bi-vallate hillfort which presents some unusual features. Both the opposed entrances have been damaged: that to
the N.W. has ramparts abutting at right-angles and a slight ditch, extending N.W. fom the S. side of the entrance, suggests an embryonic out-turning. The “outwork” at the S.E. could possibly have been intended for another out-turned or covered entrance. On the W. side scarping of the main rampart has not been completed, thus leaving a berm at the original ground level between rampart and ditch. The outer rampart is also incomplete. It is simply an interspace on the S.W. side, a weak single bank on the S. & E. sides and a double bank on the N. Throughout, the impression gained is that Maesbury is an unfinished hillfort. Re-surveyed at 1/2500. ST 611472: Maesbury Castle, scheduled. (7)
Maesbury, originally called “Marksbury”, mentioned in boundary charterof 702. (8)
Details of Badger Hole cave system on Pastscape
A cave with a large entrance which leads via communicating passages to a large inner chamber. The entrance is high in the eastern face of the Wookey Hole Ravine. The cave was first discovered in 1938, and excavated over a number of years by HE Balch. Its interior deposits proved to have been extensively disturbed by badgers. Further excavations occurred in 1958 (C McBurney) and 1968 (J Campbell). Finds include Palaeolithic flints, including scrapers, awls, saws and leaf points; Palaeolithic animal remains, including mammoth, woolly rhinocerous and hyena; and a quantity of Roman finds including pottery, coins, and a bronze fibula. A number of iron objects including nails may be quite recent. Human remains recovered from Badger Hole had been regarded as belonging to the Early Upper Palaeolithic. However, direct accelerator dating of the human bones have produced dates ranging from circa 9000 years bp and 1500 bp.
Details of long barrow on Pastscape
Priddy Long Barrow (T.105) orientated NE & SW [SIC] 70 ft x 32 ft (south end) x 6-7 ft high. Stones of the surrounding wall and also possibly of two chambers are visible, as well as the tips of the two uprights of the entrance passage at the south corner. There is no trace of a surrounding ditch. (2) Partial excavation by the U.B.S.S. in 1928 revealed a hearth, two or three human teeth and flints – including a triangular pygmy from the original turf level. (3) The typescript of this excavation report is with the U.B.S.S., and has not been published. (4) This long barrow is 1.7 metres high and is orientated NW-SE. A number of stones are visible on the sides but none are earthfast and they probably result from field clearance.Resurveyed at 1/2500 (5)
A report of the 1928 excavation submitted by C W Phillips (? to PUBSS) was found in 1950. Now published with comments by H Taylor (who held the report between 1950 and 1970). The barrow had been previously disturbed at the south end probably by Skinner. The main structure was a cairn of big stones, with the higher and wider end to the south. Primary and secondary features were found (see plan), but no dating material. Presumed Neolithic from form and structure. (6)
Hemp Knoll Barrow
Monument No. 215555
Details of Barrow on Pastscape
Bronze Age bowl barrow, Grinsell’s Bishops Cannings 81. Excavated in 1965, the mound had been constructed over a group of 5 Neolithic pits containing flint implements, pottery, antler and animal bone. The primary burial comprised an inhumation with pottery, wristguard and beaker. There were traces of some kind of wooden structure associated with the grave, presumably a coffin. The presence of an ox skull and four feet suggests that the interment had been covered by an ox-hide. A single secondary cremation was contained in an inverted food vessel. The round barrow is visible as an earthwork mound on aerial photographs but has been ploughed level and the outer ditch of the mound, and a possible central pit are visible as cropmarks on more recent aerial photographs.
(SU 0686 6733) Tumulus (NR) (1)
A bowl barrow south-west of Beckhampton Firs, Bishop’s Cannings 81, was totaly excavated in 1965 by Mrs M E Robertson-Mackay on behalf of the Ministry of Works. The excavation revealed that the barrow, 56 ft in overall diameter, with an irregular ditch 3 ft wide by approx 2 ft deep, had been constructed over a Neolithic occupation site consisting of five roughly circular pits. Finds from the pits included flint scrapers, piercer, hammer stones and flakes, Windmill Hill pottery, antler tines and animal bones. The primary grave of the barrow, which seemingly had been covered by an indeterminate structure, at least partially constructed of wood, contained a male inhumation, with wrist-guard, toggle and bell beaker. An unaccompanied satellite inhumation of a child lay near the primary burial. A single secondary burial consisted of a cremation in an inverted food vessel. An irregular length of disconnected barrow ditch 23 ft long had been dug outside the barrow on the east side. (2-3) SU 0685 6733: The soilmark of the barrow ditch 19.0m diameter, in ploughland, is all that remains.
Resurveyed at 1:2500, utilizing OS APs. (4)
Final publication of the excavation (5). A radiocarbon date of 2630 +/- 80 bc was obtained from animal bone from one of the Neolithic pits. The indeterminate structure containing the primary inhumation is interpreted as having been a wooden coffin. In the grave fill but outside the coffin was the complete head and four feet of an ox. (See SU 06 NE 120 for note on ditch terminal encountered north of the barrow during excavation). (5)
The Bronze Age round barrow described by the previous authorities is visible as an earthwork mound, and after being ploughed level, the outer ditch of the mound, and a possible central pit are visible as cropmarks and these have been mapped from aerial photographs. The barrow appears to be 20m in diameter and is situated at the grid reference stated by aithority 1. It is possible the central pit represents a burial pit or is the result of the excavations described above. The barrow, as authority 5 suggests appears to have acted as a possible marker for a ditched boundary (described in SU 06 NE 120). (6)
Details of Barrows on Pastscape
Two Bronze Age bowl barrows (Grinsell’s Avebury 7 & 7a) and a bell barrow (Avebury 8a) on West Down. All have suffered plough damage, with 7 and 7a now visible as cropmarks.
(’A’ SU 0711 6844; ‘B’ SU 0707 6840; ‘C’ SU 0702 6837). Tumuli (NR). (1) On West Down – Avebury 7 (B); bowl barrow 18 paces by 1 ft. Avebury 7a (A) ploughed out bowl. Avebury 8a (C) SU 0702 6837; bell barrow, mound 75 ft by 7 ft, berm 15 ft, ditch 15 ft by 1 1/2 ft, eastern half on arable, sarsen on the top. (2) Avebury 7: A ploughed down bowl barrow; diameter 19.0m, height 0.3m. Now under grass. Avebury 7a: Now represented by a vague unsurveyable ground swelling; in arable.
Avebury 8a: A bell barrow, now under grass 39.0m overall diameter, with a mound 2.2m high and ditch 0.3m deep. The intermediate berm is 3.5m wide in the W, but ploughing in the E has almost obliterated it. A line of mature trees stand on the inner edge of the ditch on the E side.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. (3)
The Bronze Age barrows were visible on air photographs. `A’ (Avebury 7a) is visible as a ring ditch with a ploughed mound in the centre, `B’ (Avebury 7) is visible as a ring-ditch. `C’ (Avebury 8a) is still visible as an earthwork mound half covered in trees. The three barrows are roughly aligned north-east south-west. Another Bronze Age barrow (SU 06 NE 142) is almost on the same alignment to the south west. (4-6)
Beckhampton Firs Long Barrow
Monument No. 215662
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
A Neolithic long barrow (Grinsell’s Bishops Cannings 76) with a Bronze Age round barrow over its east end, located west of Beckhampton Firs. Excavated by Thurnam in the mid-19th century, apparently without result. Completely excavated by Smith in 1964. Neolithic pottery, animal bones and an antler pick were found. The antler pick was radiocarbon dated to 2307 +- 90 bc. The mound itself featured a framework of fencing comprising an axial line of stake holes with off-set “bays”, each then infilled and revetted. No human bone was found associated with the the long barrow. Subsequent to excavation, the long barrow remains as a mound, though inevitably much disturbed in appearance. Scheduled.
(SU 06666773) Long Barrow (NR) (1)
West of Beckhampton Firs – Bishop’s Cannings 76 : long barrow (see plan). Probably excavated by Thurnam (3) without result during 1855-67. Total excavation of the mound, which remained to a height of 3 ft, by Smith on behalf of the Ministry of Public Building and Works in 1964 revealed it to be unchambered, and no burials were discovered. A few sherds of Neolithic pottery were found in the mound and animal bones including the skulls of three oxen were found both in and under the mound. A round barrow with ditch was later superimposed on its eastern end. This has been almost totally destroyed, but sherds of a Collared Urn from the adjacent plough soil were most probably derived from it(4). Finds from the barrow are in Devizes Museum. (2-6)
SU 06656773. The long barrow, now up to 0.7m in height above 0.2m deep side ditches, is apparently much disturbed and cannot be readily reconciled with Smith’s plan, where the orientation seems to be in error. The mound, 66.0m long NE-SW by 50.0m, has a slightly raised circular portion at its NE end, probably the remains of the round barrow identified by Smith, and side ditches 0.2m deep. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (7)
Final publication of Smith’s excavation occurred in 1979 (8). The long barrow mound consisted of a framework of fencing – an axial line of stake holes with offsets at right angles and lateral lines closing off the bays thus formed. These bays were then infilled, the whole being revetted mostly with what the excavator describes as chalk gravel. An antler pick from the burial surface produced radiacarbon dates of 2307 +/- 90 bc. No human bone was found associated with the long barrow. The round barrow constructed over its eastern end would appear to be of Early Bronze Age date. (8) Additional references. (9-10)
The Neolithic long barrow,dsecribed by the previous authorities, has been mapped from air photographs. (11-12)
Details of Barrow on Pastscape
Bronze Age bowl barrow, Grinsell’s Cherhill 6, still extant as an earthwork mound. The centre has been mutilated by a World War Two defence post. Beaker sherds, Middle Bronze Age sherds, fragments of shale, and human remains have been recovered from the surface of the mound by Owen Meyrick.
(SU 06746963). Tumulus (NR). (1)
North of the old Bath Road – Cherhill 6; bowl barrow, 28 paces by 8 ft. Beaker sherds, MBA sherds, fragments of shale, male forearm bone, and human teeth found superficially by O Meyrick. A back-built structure was inserted in the centre during the last war. (2) A grass and bush covered bowl barrow diameter 30.0m height 3.4m. The centre is mutilated by a wartime defence post. A side bank of the Old Bath Road overlies the S periphery of the tumulus. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (3)
The Bronze Age round barrow, described by the previous authorities has been mapped from air photographs. The World War II defence post, almost certainly associated with Yatesbury camp to the north, is clearly visible on vertical air photographs. (4)
Details of Barrow Group on Pastscape
Four, possibly five, Bronze Age round barrows near Fox Covert (Grinsell’s 10-13 and 16a). 10-12 are bowl barrows, and all are extant as earthwork mounds. 10 was excavated by Colt Hoare in the early 19th century, and contained a probable primary cremation. A Beaker sherd has also been recovered from the mound. 13 is a saucer barrow. 16a is a barrow excavated by Merewether in 1849, and which produced a decorated urn. The precise location of the barrow is uncertain but it is thought to have been close to this group.
(A : SU 07536871, B : 07566873, C : SU 07576875 and D : SU 07556873) Tumuli (NR). (1)
One saucer and three bowl barrows, part of the Fox Covert group (see also SU 06 NE 47).
(A) Avebury 12; ditched bowl barrow 21 paces by 6 ft.
(B) Avebury 13; Saucer barrow, mound 32 ft by 1 ft, ditch 8 ft by 6 ins, outer bank 9 ft by 6 ins.
(C) Avebury 10; ditched bowl barrow, 19 paces by 6 ft, excavated by Colt Hoare; probable primary cremation in oval cist at a depth of 8 ft; Beaker sherd found by Passmore.
(D) Avebury 11; bowl barrow, 15 paces by 3 ft, slight hollow in the centre of the mound. (2)
Avebury 16a: A barrow excavated by J Merewether (1820-50), which produced a decorated urn, is described as being 1/4 mile N of (SU 06 NE 57) and was probably one of this group. (3,4)
Avebury 12, SU 07536873; bowl barrow, 29.0m overall diameter, mound 1.8m high above 0.3m deep ditch.
Avebury 13; SU 07566873 saucer barrow 17.0m overall diameter, mound 0.4m high above 0.3m deep ditch. There is no evidence of an outer bank.
Avebury 10; SU 07566875; bowl barrow, 27.0m overall diameter, mound 2.0m high above 0.3m deep ditch which is destroyed in the NW.
Avebury 11, SU 07556874; bowl barrow 15.0m diameter and 1.2m high. No ditch can be traced. All are grass covered.
Resurveyed at 1:2500 from OS APs. (5)
The Bronze Age barrow, described by the previous authorities, have been mapped from air photographs. (6-7)
Details of trackway on Pastscape
A later prehistoric trackway or linear earthwork running roughly NW-SE near Fox Covert, and comprising a ditch and flanking banks. The feature survives as earthworks on the latest 2006 lidar survey.
(Name: SU 07816879) Harepit Way (NR). (1)
‘Harepit Way’ east of Fox Covert, SU 07706912-SU 07806850, 750 yds long. An ancient British trackway. (2,3) A ditch up to 1.5m deep and 5.0m wide with side banks 0.3m high where best preserved; resembles a BA boundary feature. Published survey 25” revised. (4) The linear ditch with slight side banks, described by the previous authorities, has been mapped from air photographs. It is not marked, or named as Harepit Way, on the OS 1st edition map of 1889 (sheets XXVII and XXVIII). It is 590m long and turns direction slightly for its northernmost 120m. (5) A later prehistoric linear boundary or trackway is visible as earthworks on lidar and was re-mapped as part of the Avebury WHS lidar and NMP review. The feature consistes of a linear ditch with flanking banks, visible for approximately 590m. The feature appends another linear boundary (215784) and is extant on the latest 2006 lidar. (6)
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
Scheduled Neolithic long barrow, Grinsell’s Bishops Cannings 38, located west of Shepherds Shore. The barrow appears to have had no flanking ditches. Excavation in 1914 by ME Cunnington showed that the mound had already been disturbed. She found fragments of four skeletons plus a cremation in an undisturbed part of the barrow. The barrow is still extant as a ploughed-down earthwork. The barrow mound has been reduced by cultivation over the years but survives as a visible earthwork measuring 35 metres long and 16 metres wide. It stands up to 0.2 metres high but originally it stood at least 1 metre high. It is visible on aerial photographs.
(SU 03876609) Long Barrow (LB). (1)
Bishop’s Cannings No.38. A ditchless long barrow 90 feet by 55 feet by 3 feet high. Orientated E.N.E./W.S.W. Excavation in 1914 by Mrs Cunnington revealed that the primary burial had been removed. Four skeletons and one cremation were found in the undisturbed S.E. part of the mound. (2,3) A ploughed down long barrow at SU 03876608, situated on a slight S.S.W. facing slope. It is higher and wider at its eastern end. Surveyed at 1:2500. (4) The neolithic long barrow is visible as a mound measuring 30m by 12m, on aerial photographs. It may be associated with a field system, perhaps used as a marker when it was laid out but is slightly off the alignment of a number of boundaries. (7)
Details of Barrow Cemetery on Pastscape
A group of four Bronze Age round barrows at Baltic Farm, comprising two bowl barrows (Grinsell’s Bishops Cannings 30 and 32) and two bell barrows (Grinsell’s Bishops Cannings 29 and 31). 29, 30 and 31 have the appearance of a triple barrow, though Grinsell suggested that the bowl barrow had simply been inserted between the two bell barrows. These three were excavated by Cunnington and Colt Hoare in the early 19th century. 29 contained a cremation, possibly the primary interment; 30 also featured a possible primary cremation with a jet or shale ornament and a bone pin, plus a secondary cremation. 31 was excavated without result. All four barrows are still extant as earthworks.
(SU 04506659) TUMULI (LB). (1) Bishops Cannings 29 – 32.
29 – SU 04496657 – a bell barrow 129 x 10 ft. Probably excavated by Colt Hoare; primary (?) cremation.
31 – SU 04516660 – a bell barrow 57 x 8 ft. The berm and ditch have been obliterated. Excavated by Colt Hoare and W. Cunnington without result.
30 – SU 04506659 – a bowl barrow 30 x 3 ft. The central member of a so called triple barrow but more probably a bowl-barrow inserted between two bells. Excavated by W. Cunnington who found a primary (?) cremation with ornament of jet or shale, and a bone pin. Possibly excavated by R.C.Hoare who found secondary cremation to N. Finds now lost.
32 – SU 04546660 – a bowl barrow 51 ft x 3 ft. (2)
29: ‘A’ SU 04486656, the berm is visible only in the S.E., ditchless.
30: ‘B’ SU 04496657, a small bowl barrow 1.1 metres high.
31: ‘C’ SU 04506658, 2.2 metres high, the berm and ditch cannot be traced.
32: ‘D’ SU 04546659, a bowl barrow 1.1 metres high.
Surveyed at 1:2500; all under pasture. (3)
Two of the Bronze Age round barrows, `C’ or Bishops Cannings 31 and `D’ or Bishops Cannings 32, are visible as earthwork mounds on aerial photographs. (4)
Details of Barrow on Pastscape
A Neolithic long barrow (Grinsell’s Bishops Cannings 92) situated on Roughridge Hill, to the south of Wansdyke. The barrow mound measures about 75 metres long and up to 32 metres wide. It stands up to about 1 metre high. Flanking the mound, but no longer visible at ground level due to the spreading of the mound caused by ploughing, are two quarry ditches which will survive as buried features. Scheduled.
On Roughbridge Hill – Bishop’s Cannings 92; a long barrow, visible on air-photographs. (SU 05486577), orientated E/W, 230ft by 100ft and 6 1/2ft high. The eastern tip said by Grinsell to be cut by the Wansdyke. (1,2) SU 05466578; The long barrow is 70.0m long ENE-WSW by approximately 40.0m. The side ditch on the S is ploughed out, and visible only as a soilmark, but on the N a short portion of the ditch up to 0.7m deep protrudes from beneath Wansdyke which overlies it. The mound, although under plough, is up to 2.5m high. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3) The Neolithic long barrow referred to by the previous authorities was visible on vertical air photographs as a substantial oval mound which tapers to a point at its west end. Recent photographs show that it is gradually being ploughed smooth but is still a substantial mound. (4-5)
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
Neolithic long barrow on Kitchen Barrow Hill, listed by Grinsell as Bishops Cannings 44. The barrow is extant as an earthwork mound 34 metres long, 18 metres wide and up to 2.7 metres high. The side ditches are 8 metres wide and up to 40 cm deep. Grinsell referred to a sarsen protruding from the north east end, but this can no longer be seen. 5 sherds of Roman pottery found on the surface are in Devizes Museum. The long barrow has also been recorded on aerial photographs.
(SU 06686480) Kitchen Barrow (NAT) Long Barrow (NR). (1) On Kitchen Barrow Hill – Bishops Cannings 44: long barrow orientated NE/SW, 106 ft by 70 ft by 7 1/2 ft. Side ditches curve slightly inwards at NE end, near which large sarsen protrudes from the mound (2). SU 06686480 The long barrow, 34.0m NE-SW by 18.0m is up to 2.7m high above the side ditches which are 8.0m wide and 0.4m deep. The barrow, situated on the end of NE-SW ridge, is well preserved except for a modern depression at its NE end. The sarsen noted by Grinsell cannot now be located. Published survey 25” revised. (3) SU 066648. Five sherds of ? Romano-British coarse pottery were found on the surface at Kitchen Barrow, and presented to Devizes Museum by J Pile. (Acc No 43 1970). (4) The Neolithic long barrow described by the previous authorities has been mapped from aerial photographs. (5-6)
Details of Barrow Group on Pastscape
(SU 105443) Tumuli (AT) (1)
A barrow cemetery comprising of eight barrows; four disc, three bowl and one bell barrow (Durrington 1-3, Winterbourne Stoke 46-50). Excavations were carried out by Cunnington but little or no records survive. Burials accompanied by grave goods are know to have come from Winterbourne Stoke 46 (SU 14 SW 296) and two of the four disc barrows but these were not identified. (2-3) Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4) Excavations carried out in 1961 by Vatcher located burials within three barrows, Winterbourne Stoke 46 (SU 14 SW 296) Winterbourne Stoke 47 (SU 14 SW 297) and Winterbourne Stoke 50 (SU 14 SW 300). Grave goods recovered included beads, awls, and a bronze dagger. The excavations identified the two disc barrows, excavated by Cunnington and found to contain burials, as Winterbourne Stoke 49 (SU 14 SW 299) and Winterbourne Stoke 50 (SU 14 SW 300). These two barrows, together with Winterbourne Stoke 47 (SU 14 SW 297) contained stake-built structures. A possible stake-built structure was also identified outside of the barrow ditch of Winterbourne Stoke 46 (SU 14 SW 296) (5)Barrow A at SU10714435 , Barrow B at SU10784433 now descheduled(6) The barrows are visible as slight earthworks, and some appear as cropmarks, on aerial photographs, and have been mapped by both RCHME’s Salisbury Plain Training Area NMP and EH’s Stonehenge WHS Mapping Project. (7)
Details of Barrow Group on Pastscape
An early Bronze Age round barrow cemetery comprising 14 extant earthwork round barrows and one plough-levelled mound described by Colt Hoare as “non sepulchral”: each round barrow is recorded separately (see child records). The cemetery comprises disc, saucer and bowl forms in a compact linear group extending over an area measuring 375m east to west by 170m wide. Colt Hoare opened most of the barrows in the early 19th century. Some of the barrows suffered damage from military activity during the Second World War, after which a tree plantation covered the site. The trees were removed in the late 1990s. A Level 3 detailed analytical survey and investigation of the round barrow cemetery (at 1:1000 scale) was carried out by English Heritage in 2010 as part of its Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. The survey suggests a relative stratigraphy for the central group of barrows, which appear to have an east to west progression. The earthworks are threatened by hawthorn scrub and burrowing animals.
Details of Barrow Group on Pastscape
A Bronze Age round barrow cemetery comprising eight bowl barrows and a pond barrow, most of which survive as earthworks although there is some substantial damage from ploughing. Several of the barrows were excavated in the early 19th century by Sir Richard Colt Hoare (1812). Four further mounds, probably of more recent origin, were recorded to the west by Grinsell (1957). The round barrows were surveyed at 1:1,000 in 2011 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. See individual barrow records for details.
Details of Barrows on Pastscape
(SU11554183) Tumuli (AT) (Two extant, one site). (1)
Barrow cemetery originally comprising of eight round barrows, of which only two are visible Amesbury 1 (SU 14 SW 431) Amesbury 2 (SU 14 SW 432) and each of which contained a primary cremation. Colt Hoare shows five very small barrows in the immediate vicinity, and in one of these, or Amesbury 3 (SU 14 SW 433) he found the “Stonehenge Urn”, probably the largest barrel urn in Britain. It was upright, contained a cremation and was sealed by a large triangular stone. It is now on display in Devizes Museum. Another one of these barrows contained a small socketed looped bronze spearhead found just below the turfline, it was wrongly identified by Thurnam as found in a barrow at Wilsford. The five small barrows had been destroyed before 1912. (2-3) Amesbury 1-2; barrows are extant. None of the remaining barrows can be identified on the ground which is under pasture. Published 1:2500 surveys revised. (4) The barrows are visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, and have been mapped by both RCHME’s Salisbury Plain Training Area NMP and EH’s Stonehenge WHS Mapping Project. Details of each barrow are recorded separately. (7)
The five destroyed barrows appear to be those mentioned by Cleal et al as Amesbury 107-111. In terms of their relationship to Stonehenge, it is suggested that these barrows were located so as not to be visible from Stonehenge.
Details of Barrows on Pastscape
A Bronze Age barrow group comprising two disc barrows and a bell barrow with an outer bank. A bucket urn has been recovered from the bell barrow. The barrows are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs.
Details of Barrows on Pastscape
The Winterbourne Stoke Crossroads round barrow cemetery comprises a linear arrangement of 19 late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age circular earthwork monuments, commonly known as round barrows. Winterbourne Stoke 3 (Monument Number 870372) to 10 (870444) are aligned to the north-east of the Neolithic long barrow known as Winterbourne Stoke 1 (Monument Number 219696). They extend south-west / north-east for nearly 600m: this alignment continues after a gap of circa 100m (see Winterbourne Stoke 22: Monument Number 219720). A roughly parallel secondary alignment immediately to the west comprises Winterbourne Stoke 2a (Monument Number 866648) to 12 (Monument Number 870446). A cluster of barrows sits slightly apart, circa 250m north-west of the main alignment (Monument Number 215072). Most of the barrows were excavated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in the early 19th century. The barrow cemetery was mapped from aerial photographs at a scale of 1:10,000 as part of the RCHME: Salisbury Plain Training Area NMP, which was revised by English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Mapping project. The barrow cemetery was surveyed at a scale of 1:1000 in August 2009 and January 2010 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. Please consult the individual round barrow records for further information.
Details of barrow cemetery on Pastscape
A barrow cemetery comprising of 22 barrows (Wilsford 37-40, 42-50a) including the Prophet Barrow (SU 14 SW 465) and two confluent bowl barrows (SU 14 SW 469). These include 15 bowl barrows, two bell and two disc barrows. Excavations carried out during the nineteenth century and in June and July of 1959 have located burials, mainly cremations, in most of the barrows. Some were accompanied by grave goods which included daggers, beads and awls. There is however confusion over which barrows contained some of the finds which is a result of confusion over the correlation of Colt Hoare and Rev. E. Dukes barrow numbers to Grinsells barrow numbers due to differences in recent plans to those of Colt Hoare’s, therefore the finds may not be related to their appropriate barrows. The barrows which are mainly affected are Wilsford 47 (SU 14 SW 470), Wilsford 49 (SU 14 SW 472), Wilsford 50 (SU 14 SW 473) and Wilsford 50a (SU 14 SW 474). (2-5)
Details of Barrow on Pastscape
Bronze Age bowl barrow, listed by Grinsell as Wilsford 43, and part of the Lake Group of barrows recorded as SU 14 SW 51. The barrow allegedly acquired its name in the early 18th century after French “prophets” set up their standard on it and preached to local people (circa 1710). Excavated in the early 19th century by Colt Hoare, who found a primary cremation in what he described as a wooden box in a large cist. Accompanying the cremation were a bronze dagger and a perforated whetstone-pendant. The barrow is extant as a mutilated mound 1.5 metres high.
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
A Neolithic long barrow, listed by Grinsell as Wilsford (South) 41, and forming part of the Lake group of barrows (SU 14 SW 51). The barrow does not appear to have been excavated, and is extant as an earthwork 140 feet long and 75 feet wide. The mound has a maximum height of 3.5 metres, and has well-defined side ditches.
Details of the central section of the Barrow Group on Pastscape
14 Bronze Age round barrows on Normanton Down survive as earthworks. They form the central group of the Normanton Down round barrow cemetery (Monument Number 1531088). The round barrows were listed individually by Goddard (1913) and Grinsell (1957), as: Wilsford 3-9, 9a, 10-12 and 14-17. The group includes Bush Barrow (Monument Number 943060). The linear barrow cemetery continues to the west (Monument Number 219735) and east (Monument Number 219564). Many of the round barrows were excavated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in the early 19th century and they were surveyed at a scale of 1:1000 in April 2010 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. Please see the individual records for specific details about each barrow.
Details of mortuary enclosure on Pastscape
Neolithic mortuary enclosure on Normanton Down. Originally a rectangular ditched enclosure with internal banks, orientated east-south-east to west-north-west, measuring circa 36 metres by 21 metres. The eastern end was slightly wider than the western. The banks were visible as earthworks in 1949 but had been competely ploughed out by the time the site was fully excavated in 1959. Excavation showed the enclosure to be rectangular with rounded ends, the ditch being interrupted by 11 causeways. The largest causeway, 16 feet long, was at the eastern end. Within and at right angles to this “entrance” were a pair of bedding trenches, each containing 3 post holes. Both yielded evidence for horizontal timbers linking each set of three posts. A shallow linear depression ran across the entrance causeway, linking the ditch segments on either side. The segment south of the entrance showed evidence for recutting. The segment north of the entrance featured a deposit of three antler picks in the ditch terminal adjacent to the entrance. Finds were few – there were no flint or stone artefacts, and only a single potsherd – Mortlake Ware, found high in the ditch silts on the south side. In all, 11 antler were recovered, plus a few bones of sheep/goat and cattle. A radiocarbon date of 3510-2920 Cal BC has been obtained. The enclosure is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs.
Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape
A Neolithic long barrow survives as earthworks situated circa 350 metres southwest of the main linear alignment of the Normanton Down barrow cemetery (1531088). It was excavated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in the early 19th century (Barrow 173) who found a primary deposit of four skeletons on the “floor” at the eastern end, and a secondary inhumation, possibly Anglo-Saxon, near the top of the mound, also at the eastern end. The barrow was listed as Wilsford 30 by Goddard (1913) and subsequently by Grinsell (1957). It was surveyed at a scale of 1:1000 in April 2010 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. The surviving earthworks extend east / west for circa 43m and comprise a linear mound flanked to the north by a ditch. The eastern end of the mound stands 2.3m high: its summit, which is also aligned east / west, measures 6m long and 3m wide. At least three phases of construction are suggested by the circular mounding of the eastern end, which measures 22m wide at its base, and presence of a narrow terrace, circa 1m wide, on its southern side. The western end of the mound measures circa 12m wide and has been heavily eroded by a trackway. The northern ditch measures up to 8m wide and up to 0.7m deep.
Details of Barrows on Pastscape
The remains of a round cairn cemetery of Bronze Age date are visible on Carleigh Moor. Seven of the round cairns lie immediately north east of the nearby hillfort (NZ 09 NE 2) on sloping ground. These cairns measure 7 metres to 8 metres in diameter and stand between 0.3 metres and 1 metre high. Two of the cairns have the remains of a retaining circle. Two of the other cairns were excavated during the 19th century; a cist and its cover slab lie at the centre of one of the cairns and the second is visible as a scatter of stones with a second cist at its centre. The cemetery extends onto the lower lying ground east of the hillfort where four round cairns are visible.
Three of these form a compact group known as the ‘Warrior Graves’. The three cairns are between 5 metres and 6 metres in diameter and range from 0.4 metres to 1 metre high. The fourth cairn lies 120 metres south east of this group and is 5 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high. Scheduled.
On the north-east side of the hill, on which the camp is (NZ 09 NE 2) are some grave-mounds. Two of the largest have been excavated. The first was 32 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. A cist was found in the centre lying east-west and measuring 3’ 8” by 1’ 10” by 2’ 3” deep. There was no trace of a burial. This cist can yet been seen with its covering slab lying nearby, on the lower ridge of the hill on the way to the camp, after the last stile on the footpath from Rothbury to Lordenshaws.
The second, 20 yards away, was 26 feet in diameter, 4 feet high, and a cist found in the centre completely filled with sand with no trace of bone, measured 2’ 8” by 1’ 8” by 1’ 6” deep. There was a little charcoal together with two small pieces of pottery. A line of small stones may be traced from these burials leading up to the ridge towards the camp. (1)
(NZ 05749958) Cist (TI) (2)
Excavation report: Source of information in authority (1). (3)
Two small pieces of pottery in a barrow.(Present location not given.
Listed under “Urns known from literature only”).
At Lordenshaws a burial mound approx 300 yards NE of the camp has on its margin a carefully packed standing stone 2’ 6” high by 2’ 0” by 1’6”, deeply weathered. (4)
NZ 056993. Six cairns were definitely located on the NE slopes of the hill. Other vague mounds in the region appear to be heather-covered outcrop.
‘A’ NZ 05749958. The remains of a cairn with an apparent diameter of 7.5m and maximum height of 0.3m. In the centre is the cist mentioned by authorities 1 and 2. It measures 1.3m x 0.65m x 0.5m deep. The N, S and E sides are constructed of a single stone slab but the west end is of small stones packed together. The cover slab of the cist lies to the immediate south.
‘B’ NZ 05739959. About 15.0m NW of ‘A’ a scatter of stones on a slight natural rise is probably the remains of the second cairn referred to by authority 1. Insufficient remains for dimensions to be given. On the south side of this scatter is a three-sided cavity in the rocks measuring 0.8m x 0.5m x 0.5m deep. This may be the second cist described by authority 1, the dimensions being approximately the same. The present location of the two pieces of pottery mentioned as being found therein was not ascertained.
‘C’ NZ 05589942. The cairn refered to by authority 4 is 7.0m in diameter and 0.5m high with a hollow in centre. At least three stones of a retaining circle are still in situ. The standing stone
is in the SW quadrant and appears to be merely an extension of a line of stones, 20.0m to the south, evidently the remains of an old field boundary.
This boundary has similarities of construction with an enclosure approx 900.0m to the NNE which is mentioned in the 13th century.
‘D’ NZ 05639940. A cairn 8.0m in diameter and 0.5m high with a hollow in centre. At least five stones of a retaining circle are still in situ.
‘E’ NZ 05689929. An oval cairn measuring 7.0m x 5.0m x 1.0m high and oriented E-W. It appears to be intact.
‘F’ NZ 05889935. Cairn 5.0m diameter and 0.4m high. None of the cairns have any traces of a ditch and only ‘C’ and ‘D’ the remains of a retaining circle.
NZ 05739955 to NZ 05609939. The line of stones referred to by authority 1 can be traced for 200.0m. The stones are small (max ht above ground level 0.4m) and irregularly spaced and appear to demarcate the east side of an old trackway which appears in places as a slight hollow way. No evidence for dating. (5)
Cairns ‘C’ and ‘D’ by virtue of their proportions (see photographs), and the evidence of eristaliths must be classed with ‘A’ and ‘B’ as sepulchral, although all four fall in an area that shows signs of having been cleared for cultivation (see NZ 09 NE 9).
Similarly ‘E’ is a substantial and isolated cairn in a modern enclosure. ‘F’ is smaller than the other five, and its position on the fringe of stone clearance is suspect, but again it is a single
cairn in an area otherwise devoid of stone heaps. Surveyed at 1/2500. (For 1/2500 illust see NZ 09 NE 2). (6)
NZ 058 992 etc. Cup and ring marked rocks, stone rows, tumuli, cairns and Garleigh Hill stone circles and Lordenshaws camp, Hesleyhurst. Scheduled No ND/86. (7)
Authority 5’s cairn C lies within the area surveyed by RCHME in December 1990 and is briefly described in the published account, where it is noted that it is in a conspicuous position when seen
from the lower ground to the east. (8)
Details of Barrows on Pastscape
Two Bronze Age bell barrows known locally and in early archaeological publications as ‘The Warrior Mounds’ or ‘The Warrior Barrows’. The barrow mounds both survive as upstanding stone and earth mounds measuring 23 metres in diameter and standing up to 2.5 metres high. The mounds were originally surrounded by gently sloping berms 5 metres wide which have been obscured by later ploughing. Beyond the bern edges lie quarry ditches from which material was obtained during the mounds’ construction. These have become infilled over the years but are known from earlier excavation and aerial photographs to survive as buried features 3 metres wide. Excavations carried out in 1848 and 1935 in the vicinity of the barrows produced finds from several periods including Iron Age and Roman pottery fragments, the cremated bones of a woman and child, a male skeleton, and Early Bronze Age dagger and an important selection of early Neolithic and Bronze Age pottery. Scheduled.
[A – SU 5196 8326: B – SU 5201 8329] TUMULI [G.T.] (1) Two round barrows on Blewbury Down.
A. (Lat. 51 32’ 43”, Long. 1 15’ 2” (3). Mound 12 ft. 6ins. high, inside ditch diameter 123 ft.
Opened by Dr. Wilson, Sept. 1848, the material of the mound contained fragments of ‘British’ pottery and one Roman fragment.
Cremated bones of a woman and child were found very near the centre, 8 ft. from the summit. Within a foot of them lay a flat bronze rivetted dagger identified as E.B.A. and now in the Ashmolean Museum. An unaccompanied male skeleton also lay near the centre, 4 ft. from the surface. Dr. Wilson regarded it as of Civil War date (2)(5).
B. (Lat. 51 32’ 44”, Long. 1 15’ 0”) (3) Mound 12 ft. 6 in. high surrounded by a well marked inner ditch 108 ft. in diameter. Excavated c. 1848 by Lousley and King who found – ‘remains of animals, an arrowhead and some trifles’. Many small British pottery vessels, apparently set in a circle, are said to have been discovered. (2)(5). The primary interment may not have been found (3). Both barrows were re-excavated in 1935 by Peake, Coghlan and Marshall.
A. Much wood ash in the mound and a few fragments of early pottery. Under the mound and just south of the centre, was an irregular shallow pit, divided into two sections. In both sections were animal bones, a large amount of E.I.A. pottery and nearly a dozen fragments of Windmill Hill pottery, the latter apparently having been washed into the pit. A large piece of oolitic stone, possibly Roman, was found 18 in. deep, c. 20 ft. from the centre, and 4 R.B. sherds came from just inside the northern berm at a depth of 12”.
B. South of the mound, a pit containing E.I.A. pottery fragments, was intersected by the ditch. In the body of the mound were, a beaker fragment, 2 E.I.A. and 2 R.B. sherds. The filling of the ditch yielded one piece of Peterborough ware, 8 fragments of E.I.A. and 4 R.B. sherds.
Peake concludes from this evidence that the mounds cannot be earlier than Roman and are probably not later. He suggests that there may be a Neolithic causewayed camp in the vicinity and concludes that the bronze dagger found near the cremation burial was not associated with it, but was probably scraped up with the material of the mound, as was the pottery. Peake then says that the purpose of the mounds in uncertain, while R.F. Jessup (4) says there is not sufficient evidence to regard them as Roman. Piggot classifies the early pottery as a remarkably complete series ranging from Ne. ‘A’ to M.B.A. and concludes – “we may assume that they all derive from an adjacent settlement site which appears to have enjoyed continuous occupation over a considerable period of time.” (2-6)
The two barrows are now much reduced in height; ‘A’ measures 6 ft. and ‘B’ 8 ft. Each is surrounded by a crop mark representing the ditch. Published survey (25”) revised. The E.B.A. dagger found by Wilson is in the Ashmolean Museum, Acc, N.C.445, and at present is being restored. (7) Two round barrows 1/4 mile (400m) north of Lower Chance Farm, at SU 520 833, have been scheduled as an Ancient Monument (Oxon No.191) (8) The barrows are visible on aerial photographs. The external ditches appear as cropmarks. (10)
Details of Stone on Pastscape
Bronze Age cup marked standing stone (in situ). One face of the stone is marked with seven clear cup marks and three small pecked marks. The stone is visible on air photographs.
(NZ 04347465) The Warrior Stone (TI). Standing Stone (LB). (1)
In a field south of Sandywayhead farmhouse, Ingoe, is a standing stone about 6 ft high, known locally as ‘The Warrior Stone’. Marked as “Stone” on OS 6” (sited NZ 0434 7465). (2)
A much weathered standing stone 2.0m high and 0.5m square at the base, with four distinct cup marks on its east face. See photograph. (3)
NZ 043 746. Sandyway Heads standing stone. Scheduled No ND/133. (4)
The Warrior Stone H00756 NZ 044 747
Close to Sandyway Heads in a field sloping to the south, this standing stone has seven clear cup marks on one face and three small pecked cups. (5)
A Bronze Age standing stone is visible as a structure on air photographs at NZ 0434 7465. (6)
Details of Barrow on Pastscape
A round barrow with an earth and stone mound, standing up to 1.2 metres high. There is a hollow in the centre of the mound, caused by partial excavation in the past. On the west side of this hollow is a boundary stone, bearing on its south-eastern face the inscription ‘By Order of the Commissioner of Wykeham Inclosure 1786’. Scheduled.
(SE 8921 9618) Low Woof Howe (NR). (1)
SE 8919 9618 The remains of a heather-covered barrow composed of earth and stone, 15.0 m diameter and 1.5 m high, the centre of which has been removed. Surveyed at 1:10 000. Surmounted by a boundary stone inscribed: “By order of the commissioner of Wykeham 1786”.
The name Low Woof Howe still applies. (2)
SE 892 961. Low Woof Howe round cairn. Scheduled no. NY/891. (3)
A round barrow with an earth and stone mound, standing up to 1.2 metres high. There is a hollow in the centre of the mound, caused by partial excavation in the past. On the west side of this hollow is a boundary stone, bearing on its south-eastern face the inscription ‘By Order of the Commissioner of Wykeham Inclosure 1786’. Scheduled. (4)
Details of site on Pastscape
A Bronze Age bowl barrow situated in the corner of Ogbourne St Andrew Churchyard. Excavations in 1885 by Henry Cunnington located primary Bronze Age cremation, an Anglo-Saxon inhumation and about twenty intrusive inhumations thought to be part of the medieval churchyard. In 1974 the barrow was visible as an earthwork 23 metres in diameter, 1.6 metres high with an 0.3 metre deep mutilation in the top.
(SU 1888 7234) Tumulus (NR). (1)
A round barrow in Ogbourne St Andrew churchyard, excavated by Henry Cunnington in 1885. He found about 20 skeletons in the top 2 or 3 feet; a skeleton in a fir-wood coffin with iron clamps, near the centre and 5 ft down; a cremation wrapped in a cloth and associated with a flint knife and a small ‘food vessel’ at 7 ft; and, at the old ground level, abundant traces of wood ash and cremations, irregularly scattered, and ‘what appeared to be the side of a trench’ some 6 or 7 ft in length and lined with wood. Other items found in the excavation were a fine leaf-shaped arrowhead just below the surface at the top of the barrow, and several ‘interesting flint implements and rubbers of sarsen stone, turned up in the course of excavation’. Cunnington interpreted the 20 skeletons as medieval burials (probably of poor people as there were no traces of coffins); the skeleton in the coffin as probably Saxon; and the lower level remains as (inferentially) Bronze Age, with the trench feature possibly the remains of a (primary) burial pit. (2).
Other authorities (3, 4, 5, 6) give summaries of the excavation without dissenting from Cunnington’s conclusions. The cremation cloth is separately discussed (7). The skeleton and coffin are generally accepted as probably Saxon, and are illustrated by Baldwin Brown; they went to Devizes Museum (4). The dimensions of the barrow are given by Cunnington as Diam c 85ft, height at least 11ft; and Grinsell gives practically the same. (2-8)
SU 18877233. A bowl barrow 23.0 metres in diameter and 1.6 metres high with an 0.3 metre deep mutilation in the top. Tree covered. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (9)
Details of site on Pastscape
Chambered round barrow listed by Grinsell as Ogbourne St Andrew 19, possibly Neolithic, excavated by Lukis in 1861. The mound had already suffered considerable damage by then. The excavations located an inhumation and a cremation. The cremation was accompanied by a potsherds and a bone chisel, the inhumation by a stone muller or rubber. In 1863 the mound was described as being 47 feet in diameter and formed largely of sarsens laid flat over a low mound, whereas Lukis had referred to a mutilated tumulus with a circle of upright stones near the base. No surface trace remains of the monument. The monument was not seen on available air photographs.
(SU 14867251) Long Barrow (NR) (site of). (1)
“...the mutilated remains of a stone barrow having a kistvaen at the east end” comparable with that at Clatford Bottom (SU 16 NE 36 Long Barrow). (2) Lukis, who excavated here in 1861, describes it only as a very mutilated tumulus of earth and stones near the base of which was a circle of upright stones some of which remained. No trace of a covered passage could be found and only two uprights of a chamber remained, with a third stone to the east. Between the uprights he found an inhumation burial with its head to the south. Beside it was a stone muller or rubber. Outside the E upright a cremation burial was found, with fragments of pottery, and a bone chisel was found tucked in at the base of the stone. This chisel and two stone mullers are in Devizes Museum. (3-4)
A tumulus about 47 ft in diameter and nearly entirely formed of large sarsen stones laid flat over a low mound of earth. A little from the centre of the SW side two large flat stones rise above the rest to a height of 6 ft above the mound and a former cap-stone has fallen to the north. No sign could be seen of the former presence of stones at either end of the erect stones nor was there any trace of the earth and stones that had formed the mound over the chamber. (Lukis (above) makes it plain that Harrod is describing the mound excavated by him two years before). (5) There is no direct evidence to justify describing this as a long barrow. No trace remains of the mound. (6) There are no surface remains. (7) No trace of this feature was seen when the area was mapped at 1:10,000 from air photographs. (8)
Details of site on Pastscape
A double row of sarsens possibly representing a stone alignment. The presence of sarsens could not be confirmed from an air photographic survey in 1995.
(Centred SU 13687297) Double row of sarsen holes, eight on the SW and 12 on the NE. (1)
This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. The presence of sarsen holes could not be confirmed by the AP survey. (2)
Details of site on Pastscape
Bronze Age round barrow cemetery comprising bowl barrows Preshute 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 9b. At least four still survive as mounds. Barrow 9 may possibly have been a pond barrow.
(Centred SU 13657295) Tumuli (NR). (1)
Rough Hill Group of bowl barrows, all listed by Grinsell. [Concordance between Ordnance Survey and Grinsell:
‘A’ = Preshute 4, ‘B’ = Preshute 5, ‘C’ = Preshute 6, ‘D’ = Preshute 7, ‘E’ = Preshute 8, ‘F’ = Preshute 9, ‘G’ = Preshute 9b]
‘A’ SU 13607295. Very ill defined, diam 16 paces; height 1’.
‘B’ SU 13657294. Slight ditch, diam 7 paces; height 1’.
‘C’ SU 13677294. Slight ditch, diam 12 paces; height 3’.
‘D’ SU 13687293. Diam 13 paces; height 3’.
Cairn mainly of sarsens.
‘E’ SU 13507297. Diam 14 paces; height 3’.
‘F’ SU 13777296. Diam 17 paces; height nil.
Large circular hollow with sarsens at bottom, surrounded by a rim of earth; like a pond barrow lined with sarsens, but probably not.
‘G’ SU 13707294. Possible barrow found by Grinsell in 1938, re-visited 1950. Diam 7 paces; height 1/2’. (2)
“A” A bowl barrow up to 18.0 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high. In a very poor condition.
“B” A bowl barrow up to 8.0 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high with vestiges of a ditch.
“C” A bowl barrow 13.0 metres in diameter and 0.9 metres high with vestiges of a ditch.
“D” A bowl barrow 12.0 metres in diameter and 0.9 metres high with a large stone content.
“E” A badly mutilated bowl barrow approximately 24.0 metres in diameter and up to 0.7 metres high. In a poor condition.
“F” There is no trace of this feature on the ground; ? ploughed out.
“G” A possible bowl barrow 6.5 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high.
Published 25” survey revised. (3)
This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. Mounds were recorded at SU 13607295, SU 13657294, SU 13677294 and SU 13507297 (’A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘E’ above). The mounds described as ‘D’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ above were not confirmed by the AP survey. (4-5)