Chance

Details of feature on Pastscape

A small circular feature, defined by a single ditch, is visible as a cropmark immediately adjacent to the round barrow Amesbury 49 (Monument Number 942659). It also appears as a very slight mound on aerial photograhs taken in 1943. It is about 6 metres in diameter, and appears to have a central pit. The feature could possibly represent a Bronze Age round barrow as part of the Cursus barrow cemetery (Monument Number 219681). Alternatively, it may represent a more recent feature associated with 20th century agricultural or military activity. The site was listed as Amesbury 114 by the RCHME. The area was surveyed by English Heritage in April 2009 as part of the Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project but no earthworks relating to the monument were recorded.

Details of hengiform enclosure on Pastscape

A possible Neolithic hengiform enclosure was discovered by geophysical survey in the early 1990s, within the eastern half of the Stonehenge Lesser Cursus (Monument Number 219543). It is defined by a single causewayed ditch that forms an egg-shaped enclosure, with the pointed end to the north-east, which measures circa 15m long by 13m wide. The causeways are clearest at the south-western end. Some pits in and around the enclosure may be associated with its use.

Details of cursus on Pastscape

I(SU 10354343 – SU 10724353) Cursus (AT). The “Lesser Cursus”, an oblong enclosure 1350ft long and between 155 and 190ft wide; open at the east end. ? Neolithic. (2) The “Lesser Cursus” lies on arable land, and is exposed to heavy ploughing. A scarp of 0.1 metre remains. Published 1:2500 survey correct. (3)
(SU 10354345 – SU 10734352) The Lesser Cursus is situated along the summit of a flat-topped ridge. It is aligned WSW-ENE and is 400m long and 60m wide, and comprised of a bank with an external ditch. Air photographs show it was visible as an earthwork in 1934 but by 1954 it had been levelled. The absence of the ditch at the eastern end has given rise to the suggestion that the cursus was unfinished. The presence of a bank and ditch crossing the cursus 200m from the western end and the constriction of the north and south side has lead to the interpretation that construction took place in two stages; the first a short cursus extending east as far as the cross bank, the second an unfinished extension continuing to the east, however, the position of the ditch on the west side of the cross bank casts doubt on this. Three areas of the cursus were excavated as part of the Stonehenge Environs Project (W55), two phases of construction were identified and were indistinguishable on the basis of radio-carbon dates obtained. Evidence for Phase I is provided by two short lengths of ditch representing either a marker ditch, or part of a trapezoidal enclosure with a small ditch and interior bank, 200m by 60m.
Phase 2. The enclosure was enlarged removing most of the phase 1 ditches, the position of the internal bank is maintained and enhanced with the exception of the newly enlarged cross ditch, the bank of which is now on the east side. The monument was extended eastwards by parallel ditches with internal banks, the eastern end appears to have been deliberately left open. A ceremonial deposit of antlers was recorded in the southern flanking ditch.
All of the phase 2 ditches except the cross ditch, appear to have been deliberately back-filled almost immediately after the original excavation.
The excavations produced Later Neolithic – Later Bronze Age pottery, animal bone including worked bone, and worked flint. Most of the flint assemblage was recovered from the ploughsoil or from the upper colluvial ditch fills, its composition and spatial distribution shows that a focus of Bronze Age activity was situated immediately beyond the eastern end of the cursus. (5)
The Lesser Cursus is visible as a very slight earthwork, and later as a cropmark, on aerial photographs, and has been mapped by both RCHME’s Salisbury Plain Training Area NMP and EH’s Stonehenge WHS Mapping Project. (8-12)

Details of the barrows on Pastscape

Twitchen Barrows (Tumuli) [O.E.] (1)
Tumulus at ‘A’ approx. 35ft diam. – 5ft 6ins in height.
Tumulus at ‘B’ approx 60ft diam – 5ft 6ins in height. (2)
W barrow sited at SS 80313226, visited by Grinsell 26.10.59. Hole at Centre. “Two stones lying outwards, perhaps from some internal structure” (a). E barrow sited SS 80403226, visited by Grinsell 26.10.59. On heath and mutilated. (3-4)
SS 80323225. A grass covered round barrow 14.0 m in diameter and 1.7 m high. Excavation hollow in centre, but Clarke’s stones not visible in centre or perimeter.SS 80413225. A grass covered round barrow 20.0 m in diameter and up to 1.7 m high. The broad top has been excessively dug into by way of pits and trenches.Both barrows are in reclaimed pasture.OS 1:2500 surveys revised. (5)Scheduled 672 (6)
Twitchen Barrows, a pair of prehistoric round barrows, are centred at SS 80383225, at the east end of the summit of Twitchen Ridge.
The westerly barrow, centred at SS 80323225, consists of a circular mound 11.5m in diameter and 1.4m high. A possible excavation trench, 2.2m wide, 3.4m long and 0.3m deep has been driven into the summit from the south. It has been exploited by an animal scrape. There is no trace of an encircling ditch around the barrow.The easterly barrow, centred at SS 80413225, measures 19.4m north-south by 23.1m west-east and is 1.3m high. It has been extensively robbed, and is bisected by a zig-zagging robbing trench 0.5m deep running roughly west-east. To the north of this the barrow appears largely intact, whilst to the south the surface is uneven and very disturbed.Both barrows are covered in close cropped grass and lie within improved pasture. Loose stone is scattered on the surface and may be associated with modern field clearance. (7)
Both mounds are clearly visible on aerial photographs from the 1940s onwards. On photographs taken on recent aerial reconnaissance flights the damage to the monuments is clear. (8-9)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SS 72553769) Tumulus (NR) (1)
“High Bray No 9”, bowl barrow visited by Grinsell in April 1949.Diameter 17 paces, height 1 1/2’. (2)
A bowl barrow up to 18.0 metres across and 0.6 metres high.Published survey 1:2500 revised. (3)
A Bronze Age barrow, as described above, is clearly visible on aerial photographs as a sub-circular earthwork measuring approximately 17.5 metres in diameter. It is part of a group of at least five barrows situated on high ground north of North Twitchen, Brayford (4).

Details of barrows on Pastscape

A: SS 72533760; B: SS 72553757 )C: SS 72583754;D: SS 72743756 ) Tumuli (NR) (1)
A: “High Bray No 10”, bowl barrow seen by Grinsell in April 1949. R Rainbird-Clarke, in 1938, records a ditch with causeway 3 paces wide on E, where traces of outer bank. Diameter 24 paces,height 3’.
B: “High Bray No 11”, bowl barrow seen by Grinsell in April 1949. Diameter 13 paces, height 4’.
C: “High Bray No 12”, bowl barrow seen by Grinsell in April 1949. Diameter 18 paces, height 2’.
D: “High Bray No 13”, bowl barrow seen by Grinsell in April 1949. Diameter 23 paces, height 2 1/2’.(2)
Surrounded by shallow trench 5’ wide lying within the margin of barrow. (Possibly not original (2).) Outer edge marked by circle of stones 67’ in diameter, largest being 36” x 11 ” x 9” high; 12 stones still extant. (3)
“A”. A flat topped bowl barrow, 23.0 metres in diameter and 0.7 metres high with an 0.3 metre deep trench cut into the top of the slopes on the north side (see “D”).
“B” SS 72543756. A bowl barrow up to 16.0 metres across and 1.0 metre high.
“C” SS 72563755. A spread bowl barrow up to 20.0 metres across and with an average height of 0.7 metres.
“D” SS72733755. A mutilated bowl barrow 28.0 metres in diameter and up to 0.7 metres high. An 0.3 metre deep trench has been dug into the top of the slope similar to “A” and SS 73 NW 5,’8’. Were these trenches dug to remove the retaining stones for road mending and hedging? Only a few of the stones noted by authority 3 are visible and these are at trench level. Published survey 1:2500 revised. (4)
Four barrows described above are clearly visible on aerial photographs as earthworks on moorland north of North Twitchen, Brayford. The Devonshire HER has identified a fifth barrow, while aerial survey undertaken in 2008 for Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme has identified a possible sixth. Possible ditches can be seen on aerial photographs as cropmarks surrounding barrows A and D, but these may be the trenches described above.
NB The Devon HER has numbered the barrows differently. The HER numbers for each barrow are as follows. A; 725, B;724, C;723 and D; 722. (5).

Details of the trackways on Pastscape

The existence of two pre-Roman trackways crossing at No Man’s Chapel (SS 912001) are suggested by existing roads, one from the south towards Cadbury Castle.
(SS 90 NW1), and another passing westward from a ford over the river Exe (SX 930993) named Suthford in Anglo-Saxon charters. An original course of the north to south route, west of the modern road, is suggested by a trackway which passes over a tumulus west of the cross-roads (SS 90 SW7). This track can be seen as a parch-mark in dry weather, from the top of the tumulus, continuing southward to the field edge.

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

(SS 91220015) Tumulus (NR). Barrow No 23 of the Upton Pyne Bronze Age Cemetery lies in a marshy field beside Jackmoor Brook. Diameter 115 feet, height 7 feet. A large bowl barrow 2.8 metres high surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
The barrow lies on a slight rise and is partially disfigured by drainage ditches. It measures 46.0m in diameter and 2.2m high. (4)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

(’A’ SX 91149929, ‘B’ SX 91209929, ‘C’ SX 91249929) Three Barrows (Tumuli) (NR). (1)

Barrow ‘B’ excavated in 1869 was then 60 ft in diameter and 3ft high. Finds included an Early Bronze Age cremation of a woman or youth with a dagger, pin, necklace and pigmy cup.
Barrow ‘A’ and ‘C’ excavated in September 1879 were then each about 120ft wide north to south and 140ft east to west. A charcoal heap and burnt layer were found in ‘A’, while in ‘C’ a burnt layer was found above a layer of iron pan in the centre. (2-3)
These barrows are under crop but are clearly visible although rather spread. (4)
These barrows have been ploughed down to less than 1ft high. Fox 6-8 respectively. (5)
‘A’ is now 33.0m. in diameter and 0.5m. high.
‘B’ Measures 25.5.m. in diameter and 0.3m. high.
‘C’ is 29.5m. in diameter and 0.5m. high.
Revised at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (6)
SX 91149929;SX 91209930;SX 91249930.Listed as ‘round barrows’. (7)
SX 91149929;SX 91209930;SX 91249929.Listed as ‘class 3 barrows, 0.5-1m high in fair condition’ in Upton Pyne parish. (Nos 6,7,8) (8)
All three barrows are described by the OS Field Reviser as being extensively ploughed down and under cultivation. (9)

Details of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age occupation of site on Pastscape

Neolithic activity at Cadbury was for a long time represented only by casual surface finds, including polished flint and stone axes. During the 1950s, Neolithic pottery was identified among artefacts recovered by Mary Harfield, although the discovery subsequently became somewhat overshadowed by the attention given to the early Medieval sherd also recovered by her. However, Ralegh Radford argued on the basis of these surface finds that there had been ‘substantial occupation’ in the Neolithic, represented by Windmill Hill-type pottery, leaf-shaped arrowheads etc, and speculated on the possibility of a causewayed enclosure having been located on the hill. In her own account of her finds, Harfield referred to the discovery of worked flints in ‘great quantity’, and described two ‘working floors’ on the northward-facing slope of the interior, from which came cores, arrowheads, scrapers, burins, fabricators, saws, knives, plus misc flakes and blades. Her finds were subsequently donated to Taunton Museum. (1-3)
The physical evidence for a Neolithic presence on the hill was uncovered during the 1966-1970 excavations directed by L Alcock. features included a number of pits, distinguished from later features by their red clay fill, in contrast to the darker material conatined in later pits. Artefacts varied in quantity and type from one pit to another. Pit P154, for example, contained sherds from several vessels, 2 flint arrowheads, a quantity of waste flakes, various bones from an ox, an antler fragment, burned hazelnut shells, and part of a human jaw. Pit C187 meanwhile contained part of a human skull only among the red clay fill, while another contained just waste flakes among its fill.
The only other features definitely attributable to the Neolithic were a straight-sided gulley with what appeared to be a right-angled return. Initially thought to be a building, no further continuation of either feature was uncovered. There were no definite signs of an enclosure, although traces of a possible stony bank beneath the pre-rampart soil were noted in one cutting.
As for dating, the antler from Pit P154 produced a C14 determination of 2510+/-120bc, and some of the hazelnut shells from an unknown context produced a determination of 2755+/-115bc, placing this occupation in what Alcock described as ‘a mature phase of the early Neolithic’.
Subsequently, the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age are, acording to interim accounts, rather sparsely represented. Apart from a few diagnostic flint types such as ptd arrowheads, the evidence is limited to a single sherd of Grooved Ware found beside an otherwise undated stake hole, and a miniature EBA flanged axe. (4,5 NB see ST 62 NW 1 for fuller biography of the 1966-70 excavations).

Details of the Iron Age hillfort on Pastscape

The Hillfort defence does not consist of four ramparts. Around much of the northern side there is clear evidence of a discontinuous berm which probably represents a fifth rampart. This is not a strategic necessity. The eastern side is the most vulnerable and here only the upper two ramparts survive. Below
these two slight changes of slope could be indicate former ramparts and these may have been deliberately slighted for conversion to strip lynchets which have since been eroded and covered by natural slip. Lynchets occur all round the Hillfort and much of the enclosing wall is built at the foot of a negative lynchet.
The entrance gap on the east side appears to be original (ditches on its S. side are neatly ended) but unfinished since it is so deeply cut that it could not penetrate the inner rampart unless it continued within as a hollow way. It can have had no use in an agricultural context as suggested by St. G. Gray.
Cadbury Castle is a multivallate hillfort of Iron Age date, subsequently refortified and reoccupied in the post-Roman and late Saxon periods. The hill has also yielded evidence, in the form of both surface and excavated finds, of Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and Roman activity.
The association of the hillfort with the fictitious Camelot of Arthurian legend began, in print at least, with Leland in 1542. The extent to which he was reporting local tradition rather than jumping to conclusions of his own is a matter for debate. Inevitably, the site attracted much antiquarian attention over the ensuing centuries, although the degree to which the Arthurian associations were accepted varied considerably. Camden and Stukely both described the hillfort, for example, but emphasised the predominance of Roman material recovered from the interior.
By the later 19th century, the name ‘Camelot’ was appearing on OS maps alongside the name Cadbury Castle. The earthworks were surveyed by Dymond (3,4) in 1873, while the first recorded excavation occurred “a few years before” 1890. It was undertaken by the Rev JA Bennett, who unfortunately (from an archaeological viewpoint) devoted much of his published report to local legend and tradition, with the results of his digging amounting to little more than a footnote. (5) Bennett’s finds were examined later by Harold St George Gray, who undertook his own small-scale ‘trial excavations’, mainly in and around the SW gateway, in June 1913 (6). The combination of finds from the two excavations effectively established ‘late Celtic’ (ie late Iron Age/early Roman) occupation at Cadbury. In the light of later work at the site, it also appears that Gray uncovered part of the early Medieval refurbishment of the defences, but was unable to recognise it as such at the time. After Gray’s excavations, the haphazard collection of surface finds continued, though with little in the way of recording, until the 1950s. Mary Harfield, a local amateur, collected material from the surface of the interior between 1954 and 1959 in a fairly systematic manner, although more casual collection by others continued. CA Ralegh Radford examined this material and recognised Neolithic and early Medieval artefacts as well as the expected Iron Age and Roman finds. Among the early Medieval artefacts was imported Mediterranean pottery of c5th century AD date, a discovery which once more stimulated interest in the supposed Arthurian connections of Cadbury. New APs of the hillfort interior taken around the same time also showed a considerable density of cropmark features. (7, 8)
The result of these discoveries was a major campaign of investigation under the auspices of the Camelot Research Committee, consisting of geophysical survey and excavation under the directorship of Leslie Alcock. The main excavations took place annually from 1966-1970, with some smaller-scale work linked to the post-excavation programme occurring in 1973. These excavations established a sequence of periodic activity at Cadbury from the early Neolithic onwards, including for the first time the recognition of a major later Bronze Age presence. Other important results included confirmation of occupation of the interior in the 5th/6th centuries AD, and further use of the site in the late Saxon period, tying in with numismatic evidence for a short-lived mint at Cadbury spanning the end of Aethelred II’s reign and the start of Cnut’s (c1010-1020 AD). Subsequent activity was primarily agricultural in nature. To date only the early medieval aspects of the excavations have been fully published, although publication of the prehistoric and Roman evidence is in preparation. Several interim accounts of the work have appeared. (3-15).
Cadbury Castle was surveyed by staff from RCHME Exeter in 1993 at the request of English Heritage and the University of Glasgow, who were preparing the published account of the prehistoric and Roman aspects of the site. The following is abstracted from the detailed archive report, which will also appear in the excavtion report:
Cadbury Castle is located on the NW edge of the dissected limestone hills between Sherborne and Wincanton, at the western limit of the Jurassic rocks which make up much of S and E Somerset. It lies on an outlier of Inferior Oolitic limestone, which caps the more sandy Upper Lias rocks below. A geological fault occurs to the south of the hilltop, which may account for the steep natural scarp in the SW part of the interior, and for the differential vegetation growth on the hillslope.
The hill is sub-rectangular in shape with a domed top and rises steeply to some 150m above OD at its summit. To the N lie the Somerset Levels, Glastonbury Tor and the Mendips; to the W Ilchester and Ham Hill, and to the S and E are the steep escarpments of Pen Hill, Corton Hill and Parrock Hill. The villages of Sutton Montis and South Cadbury lie close to the foot of the hill, to the SE and NW respectively. The adjacent hills to the E and S are marked by numerous strip lynchets, indicating extensive medieval and post medieval cultivation.
The number of ramparts and ditches vary around the defensive circuit. However, there are generally four ramparts and three ditches, although in places terraces occur instead of ditches. The eastern defences have been largely obliterated by medieval or later cultivation, and what now survives are the two uppermost ramparts and intermediate ditch. The northern and western defences, which extend from the north-eastern to the south-western entrances, are between 100m and 120m wide with a height difference of about 40m from the bottom of the outer rampart to the top of the inner rampart. The southern and south-eastern defences, which extend from the south-western to the eastern entrances, are between 85m and 100m wide and rise some 50m from the bottom of the outer rampart to the top of the inner rampart. Cultivation of medieval or post medieval date has in several instances truncated the foot of the outer rampart. Field evidence for the Aethelredan rampart refurbishment may be represented by a break of slope on the outer face of the inner rampart. Also relevant are a number of exposures of walling on the outer face.The composition of the walling and their relative heights suggests that those on the southern rampart are more likely related to the post-Aethelredan work identified by Alcock around the SW entrance, while most of the remainder may be part of the burh wall.
There are three gaps in the defensive circuit – at the south-western and north-eastern corners, and on the eastern side. All three have the appearance of being of considerable antiquity. The south-western has a deep, curving entrance passage, which funnels traffic up through the southern end of the massive western defences. The north-eastern entrance gives access to the hilltop from Castle Farm and South Cadbury, and is deeply-hollowed where it crosses the inner defences. The eastern entrance consists of a passage way, curving slightly at its eastern end, which makes its way up through the defences and ends as a deep hollow below the inner rampart. The entrance is effectively blocked by a steep scarp, which appears to be a later addition. It is uncertain when and why this entrance fell out of favour, although unlike the other entrances it does not now appear to be related to any major settlement.
The defences enclose an area of c7.5ha. The most prominent feature is the natural scarp which occupies the SW part of the interior; it has been heavily quarried. A number of quarry scoops exist in the interior – the use of the hilltop as a source of stone dates back from at least the 16th century. The interior of the hillfort has been cultivated over a long period of time, hence the paucity of existing earthworks other than remains of the 1966-70 excavation trenches. (16)
The NMR record for Cadbury Castle is arranged as follows. This record (ST 62 NW 1) consists of a general overview of the history and interpretation of the site, and includes accounts of OS and RCHME fieldwork at the site. ST 62 NW 28 deals with Mesolithic material from Cadbury; ST 62 NW 29 describes the evidence for Neolithic and Early Bronze Age activity; ST 62 NW 30 contains details of the later Bronze Age and Iron Age activity; ST 62 NW 31 features the evidence for Roman presence on the site; ST 62 NW 32 deals with the 5th/6th century re-occupation; ST 62 NW 33 describes the late Saxon use of Cadbury, as well as subsequent medieval and later use of the site. (17) Scheduled

Details of King Arthur’s Well [ST 62962528] on Pastscape

and

Details of Queen Anne’s Wishing Well [ST 62722532] on Pastscape

Details of Cadbury Castle on Pastscape

[SS 91330526] Cadbury Castle [T.I.] Hill Fort [L.B.] Cadbury Castle is an oval-shaped Iron Age (?Promontory) Fort, 640 x 470ft. The defences comprise an outer rampart with escarpment and an inner scarp and counterscarp to the W. S. & E. Entrances are in the N.E. and S.E. A shaft 58ft. deep was excavated by G. Fursdon and the finds included many pottery fragments, some coarse cinerary urn sherds, part of an iron weapon, bronze pins and rings (one possibly 2nd. C.), bronze armillae with gold ornament, charred human bones and a 17th. C. sword. Tucker (a) suggests that some of the pottery may have come from a tumulus close by which had been used to fill up the shaft. A hoard of nine Antoniniani of Victorinus and Tetricus Senior (A.D. 265-272) was found nearby in the hedge of an ancient road leading to the Camp. The Castle was occupied by Fairfax in 1645. (2-4)
This is a hill-top enclosure of two constructional phases. The small internal bank with an entrance on the E. encloses about two acres and is typical of other earthworks in the locality. The enclosure appears to have been enlarged and fortified by the addition of a strong rampart and ditch, with a counterscarp bank on all but the N. side where the existing bank was utilised and strengthened. There is no longer any trace of the depression containing the shaft.Published survey (1/2,500) revised. Finds in the well were recovered from between 20 and 25 below the modern surface, and so had been deposited when the shaft was partly filled. They were mostly personal ornaments, and, though not closely dateable, indicate the 3rd cent. as the most likely date for the deposit. (6) Native cult-centre: shaft containing personal things customary as votive offerings at shrines. (7)
SS 9134 0525. Scheduling revised. Details as above. The site was probably used during the Saxon and medieval period as a moot or open-air court, responsible for the administration and organisation of the countryside. (10)

Details of ring barrow and a round cairn on Pastscape

(SS 87414147 & SS 87464146) Tumuli (NR). Two barrows, 143 ft. apart from centre to centre. The first is a disc-barrow, a slight mound surrounded by a nearly circular bank 58 ft. in diameter at the crest and 72 ft. at the foot of the bank. Indications of an inner ditch. The second barrow E of the first is a cairn of stones much mutilated. No indication of a ditch. Diameter c. 56 ft.Cutcombe 1; SS 87414147, 24 paces across and 1.5 ft. high, apparently a saucer barrow.
Cutcombe 2; SS 87464146, 17 paces across and 4.5 ft. high. Cairn with modern stone heap, much dug away from west and south-west. (4)
The feature listed by Grinsell as Cutcombe 1 appears to be a saucer barrow. (GPs AO/65/178/1 & 2). The other feature is a disturbed cairn. Published 1.2500 survey revised. (5) SS 87414147. Cutcombe 1. Apparently a saucer-barrow comprising a central mound 32ft. diameter, 1ft. 6ins. high, enclosed by ditch circa 8ft. wide and outer bank circa 12 ft. wide. The ditch is circa 9 ins. deep externally and bank c 9 ins high. Described in error by Authority 2 as a disc barrow. SS 87464146. Cutcombe 2. Cairn surmounted by modern stone heap, listed as Authy 4. Possibly called White Barrow (see also SS 84 SE 2).
Both visited by Grinsell 25th May 1958. Cutcombe 4a. “One or two of Rowbarrows had been examined incompletely” on 2nd November 1807 (6 & 7). (SS 84 SE 8, 9 & 10 are known as ‘Rowbarrows’) A ring barrow and a round cairn situated in a prominent position on a rounded hilltop at 510 metres O.D.; part of the linear Rowbarrow group(see also SS 84 SE 9 and 10). SS 8741 4147. An impressive and well preserved ring-barrow 22.9 metres in overall diameter with a slightly off-centre saucer-shaped mound and a slightly sub-circular enclosing bank. The mound is 12.7 metres in diameter, 0.3 metres high with a shallow depression in its top where a few random largish stones are evident. The back which apparently gently slopes from south to north varies in width from 2.8 metres on the lower side to 5.2 metres on the upper side. Its height is on average 0.6 metres externally and 0.4 metres internally. The ditch noted by an earlier authority is a misinterpretation of the junction of the edge of the mound and the inner scarp of the bank. The barrow is a variation on the south west cairn platform with rim bank. SX 8745 4146. This heavily disturbed cairn, lying 8.0 metres south-east of the barrow, measures from 14.3 metres to 16.0 metres across and has a maximum height of 1.4 metres. It appears to be mostly composed of small stone although a few larger boulders are visible. The south west side has been dug away and no traces of kerbing are evident in the exposed sides. Two small, probably modern, cairns havebeen constructed on its top.
Shallow amorphous quarry pits, presumably a source of barrow material,lie between the mounds. No further information was gained on the name “White Barrow”. It is not noted on the maps of Day and Masters (1782) or Greenwood (1822). Visible on A.P.s (12-13) (14)
A well preserved ring barrow and a round cairn, forming part of the Rowbarrow group, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs, to the west of Dunkery Beacon, centred on circa SS 87424147 and SS 87464146 resprectively.
The diameter of the ring barrow outer enclosing bank measures approximately 20 metres at the outer edge, the inner mound almost 10 metres in diameter. The cairn lies 28 metres south east of the barrow and is almost 10 metres in diameter.
Numerous small and shallow quarries, which might be the source of the building material for the monuments, are visible between the mounds. (16-19)

Details of cairn on Pastscape

(SS 87884156) Little Rowbarrow (NR). Tumulus, known as ‘Little Rowbarrows’ probably composed chiefly of stone. It has been dug into considerably in the middle. Diameter about 65ft., ht. 5ft.6in. Cutcombe 4. A cairn with a hollow entre. 23 paces in diameter and 4ft.6in. high. (4)
This is a cairn 15m. high. A large hole has been dug in the centre. See G.Ps AO/65/127/1 and 2 (Stereo pair). Published survey (25”) revised. (5)
SS 87864155. Cutcombe 4. Little Rowbarrow listed as Authy 4. It is named Little Barrow on the Tithe Map of 1840. Cutcombe 4a. “One or two of Rowbarrows had been examined incompletely” on 2 November 1807 (SS 84 SE 8, 9 & 10 are known as ‘Rowbarrows’). (6-8)
SS 8788 4156. Little Rowbarrow; a fairly well defined cairn situated on the top of a rounded hil at 503 metres O.D. Composed of both large and small stones, it measures 19.0 metres in diameter with a maximum height of 1.4 metres; the central depression is 4.8 metres in diameter and about 0.5 metres deep. The heather-covered sides are fairly sharply defined although there is evidence of disturbance (? excavation trench) on the west side, and material from the central depression has been piled around the top edge. A crude (? modern) 1.0 metres high cairn has been constructed on the upper east side.
There are no quarry pits near this cairn as occur with the others of the group (qv SS 84 SE 9 and 10). Visible on A.P.s (c,d). (10-12)
The cairn is as described by authority 8 and lies at SS 87876 41563. It was surveyed using GPS as part of the RCHME East Exmoor project (13).
The well defined Bronze Age cairn known as Little Rowbarrow is clearly visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs to the west of Dunkery Beacon, centred on circa SS 87874156. The mound is roughly oval in shape, measuring 19 metres on the south-west to north-east axis and 17 metres north-west to south-east. An irregularly shaped central depression approximately 6 metres in diameter is visible near the centre of the top of the mound. (11,14)

Details of cairn on Pastscape

(SS 87544153) Great Rowbarrow (NR) The cairn known as ‘Great Rowbarrow’ is situated close to the moorland trackway to Lang Combe Head and on the E. side of it. It is a large cairn, much mutilated by deep hollows and high ridges, especially along the N. half of the mound. The greater part of the cairn has a bank-shaped footing of heaped stones, but there is little sign of thison the south side. The diameter of this rather irregular structure is circa 70ft. and from 6-7ft. high. This is a very disturbed cairn, listed by Grinsell as Cutcombe 3. (See GP AO/65/133/6). (4, 5) SS 87534154. Cutcombe 3. Great Rowbarrow, mutilated cairn including ruins of modern stone-heap now integrated with the original cairn. It is named Great Barrow on the Tithe Map of 1840. Cutcombe 4a. “One or two of Rowbarrows had been examined incompletely” on 2 November 1807 (6, 7) (SS 84 SE 8, 9 & 10 are knownas ‘Rowbarrows’).
SS 8754 4153. Great Rowbarrow, a large heavily mutilated cairn situated on a prominent hilltop at 507 metres O.D. Composed of boulders and stones it measures approximately 22 metres overall with a maximum height of about 1.6 metres. A crude (? modern) cairn, 0.4 metres high and constructed of fairly large stones, has been erected on the top, and two small circular wind shelters occupy parts of the mound. There is no evidence of a kerb and the apparent rim, a 4.0 metres wide band of small stone enclosing part of the mound has almost certainly been caused by random excavation or disturbance. Small shallow and amorphous quarry pits, probably the source of some cairn material, lie to the west and south. Visible on A.P.s (10, 11). (12)
The cairn is as described by authority 7 and lies at SS 87545 41536. It was surveyed using GPS as part of the RCHME East Exmoor project (13).
The heavily mutilated mound known as Great Rowbarrow, probably a cairn of Bronze Age date, can be seen as an earthwork on aerial photographs centred on circa SS 87544153, approximately 1.6 kilometres to the west of Dunkery Beacon. The earthwork measures up to 25 metres in diameter and field investigation reveal it stands up to 1.6 metres high. Numerous small and shallow quarry pits, probably the source of the cairn material, lie to the south and west of the monument. (14, 15)

Details of henge on Pastscape

A sub-circular enclosure is visible as low earthworks and as cropmarks circa 220 metres east-south-east of Herring’s House. Scheduled as a henge, the enclosure measures about 150 metres by 160 metres and comprises a C-shaped ditch with a broad internal bank. Within the circuit of the bank is another ditch. Both ditches and bank featre a 30 metre wide entrance or causeway to the north east. Two sections of a further external bank have also been noted. Within the interior of the enclosure are cropmark traces of a small three-sided enclosure circa 30 metres square, its open side facing the entrance to the henge.

Details of Enclosure on Pastscape

The site of a probable Neolithic causewayed enclosure on Dallington Heath. The cropmarks were interpreted and plotted by RCHME in 1994 as part of the Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic Project. See the archive report for full details. The site is located 1 km northwest of Kings Heath, and immediately southeast of Dallington Heath, on an area of relatively flat land associated with the Upper Nene basin. The enclosure itself lies between two tributary streams of the River Nene. The enclosure itself is represented by a single circuit of interrupted ditch enclosing an area of circa 280 metres by 200 metres (5 hectares). Within the enclosure are three shorter stretches of curvilinear ditch, again interrupted, which may relate to one or more inner circuits or smaller enclosures. A smaller curvilinear enclosure, 64 metres by 56 metres, is situated close to the centre of the main enclosure. It features a single entrance on the northwest side. It has been interpreted as a possible henge, although its irregular shape may argue against this. Elsewhere, the main causewayed enclosure circuit is cut by a linear ditch, and by a small rectilinear enclosure, though the latter may not be an archaeological feature. Two pit alignments also exist in the vicinity of the enclosure. Archaeological investigation of the causewayed enclosure has been minimal to date. Limited fieldwalking in 1988 recovered some prehistoric flints, while geophysical survey and trial trenching in 1992 confirmed the presence of the enclosure.

Details of henge on Pastscape

King Arthur’s Round Table, a Late Neolithic henge monument surviving as an earthwork; one of three clustered between the Rivers Eamont and Lowther. The name probably derives from the 17th century or earlier due to its circular form and the interest in Arthurian ledgends. The earthworks were surveyed and some geophysical survey undertaken, although the degree of disturbance interior proved to have been to great for the latter to produce useful results. The site comprises a sub-circular bank with internal berm and ditch. The enclosed area is a maximum of 51.2 metres across, the ditch has a maximum width of 16.2 metres, the berm 7 metres, and the bank 13 metres. Within the enclosed area is a low sub-circular platform circa 24 metres across. This has been suggested to be a relatively recent feature – parts of the earthwork were “enhanced” in the late 18th to early 19th century, apparently with a view to using the site as a tea garden – but it does appear in William Stukeley’s unpublished early 18th century sketch of the site. The earthwork has been truncated somewhat by roads on the northern and eastern sides. A single entrance exists on the southern side, but it is clear that a second entrance was formerly situated on the opposite, northern side, and was apparently flanked by two standing stones. Excavations were undertaken in 1937 by R Collingwood and continued in 1939 by G Bersu. Collingwood claimed to have identified a number of structures, represented by postholes and other features recognised at similar sites elsewhere in the country. Bersu was subsequently able to demonstrate that nearly all of these features were not of archaeological significance. The only one which may have been of importance was a “cremation trench” near the centre of the site which, although it contained little, Bersu accepted it may have been a disturbed grave. The two excavations and excavators have been compared by Richard Bradley. The site is now in the care of English Heritage.

Details of henge on Pastscape

The fragmentary earthwork remains of a possible henge monument, one of three such earthwork enclosures (see also NY 52 NW 2 and 12) clustered in close proximity on the narrow interfluve between the rivers Eamont and Lowther. The earthworks were surveyed by RCHME in 1988. The fragmentary remains comprise a barely discernible scarp on the northern perimeter of the site, and discontinuous traces of a low earthen bank with some stone visible along the southern perimeter. When projected into a full circle, these fragments suggest an enclosure of circa 90 metres in diameter across its banks. The remainder of the site is severely mutilated by buildings, tracks and roads. William Stukeley sketched the site in 1725, depicting it as a roughly circular enclosure circa 90 metres in diameter with, perhaps significantly, a bank with outer ditch. No entrance is apparent, although in 1790, Pennant seems to have recorded one in the north east sector. Some excavation was undertaken in 1939 by G Bersu. No dating evidence was recovered, and one of his three trenches failed to locate the ditch. However, the possibility that it may in fact have located an entrance seems to have been confirmed by geophysical survey in 1988. If so, this entrance is roughly in the position recorded by Pennant. The site is scheduled. Its identification as a henge is unconfirmed, the principal problems being lack of dating evidence from the excavations, and the internal bank. However, its topographical position, and its proximity to two other broadly similar enclosures, suggest that it should be viewed as broadly contemporary, even if it fails to conform to current definitions of henge monuments.

Details of henge on Pastscape

Mayburgh Henge is a Late Neolithic henge monument surviving as an earthwork, one of three in close proximity between the Rivers Eamont and Lowther. The earthworks were surveyed in 1988 and some geophysical survey also undertaken. The earthwork is defined by an almost circular bank which is up to 45 metres wide and 7.3 metres high, surrounding an internal area up to 90 metres in diameter. The bank is made up almost entirely of water-worn stones. Unusually for a site of this type there is no surrounding ditch. A single entrance exists on the eastern side. The interior is level, and a single standing stone is located near the centre. The geophysical survey identified several anomalies in the interior, although interpretation is difficult. A magnetic anomaly at the base of, and concentric to, the inner side of the bank could be a narrow ditch, or a negative lynchet associated with ploughing in the interior. An erratic series of pit-like features could be burials, pits, or former stone settings. One group is clustered to the south east of the standing stone, in an area where Dugdale recorded a stone setting in the later 17th century. In the early 18th century, William Stukeley suggested that there had been two concentric stone circles, but the anomalies do not seem to corroborate this. No excavations are known to have occurred, but Stukeley recorded that a “brass celt” had been found there, while in 1879 part of a stone axe was found near the entrance. As with the other two sites in the group, classification as a henge is not without its difficulties, but at present offers the most plausible interpretation. The function of such large monuments is not fully understood, although it is thought that they played a role in social or ritual activities, perhaps involving trade or astronomical observations. As part of the millennium celebrations in 2000 a large stone monolith was erected nearby. The monument which is now in the care of English Heritage.

Details of site on Pastscape

At least five circles situated to the east of Common Farm and north of Eastrop Farm. Although they are known as ‘circles’ their form varies from circular to sub-circular, with diameters of between 40 metres and 90 metres, to sub-rectangular. All have a flat bottomed ditch with an external bank. Despite limited fieldwork and excavation their date remains uncertain. Although sharing characteristics with henge monuments of Neolithic date, Highworth circles, located almost entirely within the Hundred of Highworth, may be suggested as being of medieval date, possibly constructed for stock management. Scheduled.
Cropmarks etc seen on Allen’s AP’s: 4/178, 4/179, and Highworth mosaic 2032.(1) Earthen enclosures and circles, Highworth type. (numbering derived from authy 2):
a) SU 21309332. No.25. Circular, 240’ diameter, not visible on the ground.
b) SU 21289315. No.26. Circular, 340’ diameter. Double-ditched in places, at several points on the East side there are small cuts in the bank, which are also traceable on the west side. They appear to be too small for original work. It is noticeable that there is a small rise towards the centre.
c) SU 21449315. No.27. Large circular earthwork with flattened sides, ploughed down, but still plainly seen to have a wide spreading bank outside a wide, spreading ditch. Its ‘diameter’ is 317’ E-W.
d) SU 21539306. No.28. A small rectangular earthwork with rounded corners, and with a ditch inside the bank. It measures 212’ from N-S by 165’ from E-W.
Copies of the AP’s from which this information was derived are held by Devizes Museum.
The date and function of these enclosures is unknown.(2)

Details of henges on Pastscape

A group of three late Neolithic/early Bronze Age henge monuments alligned in a row, surviving as earthworks and cropmarks. Further details are contained in the individual henge records (SE 27 NE 31, 32,33). The features have been mapped as part of the Thornborough Henges NMP project. See individual records for details.

Details of cursus on Pastscape

A Neolithic cursus is visible as a cropmark on air photographs. The feature is aligned north-east south-west and is overlain by Thornborough Central henge. The cursus comprises a single ditch which is broken in parts and a rounded end is visible to the south-west. No evidence for a north-eastern terminus is visible on the air photographs. Much of the monument has now been destroyed through sand and gravel extraction.
Excavations took place in the 1940s and 1950s. The cursus underlies the central Thornborough henge circle (SE 27 NE 32), and a stone cist containing a crouched inhumation was found approximately on the centre line of the cursus during quarrying.
Palaeochannels are visible on air photographs as cropmarks in this area and have been mapped as part of the Thornborough AP Mapping project. It is possible that they may obscure other archaeological features.

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

TL 057247. A possible long barrow, 100ft long, 60ft wide and 2ft to 3ft high, much ploughed, is now under grass in a recreation ground (1). Listed as a long barrow by Ashbee (2). The recreation ground is an area of apparently natural undulations. At TL 05952472 there is an elevation of the approximate dimensions
noted above, oriented NW to SE and merging with the stream bank at the latter end. No ditch is visible. The classification must remain no more than “possible”. (3) Prior to 1960 the putative long barrow was under cultivation. Around 1960 the site was seeded with grass and designated a recreation ground. The site is difficult to pinpoint but teh recorded location of the mound did coincide with a broad crease across the north edge of the playing field. The mound is not visible of aerial photographs taken in the 1950’s.

Details of site on Pastscape

Fairly well preserved semi-circular earthwork enclosure of possible Neolithic or Iron Age date. The enclosure, surveyed in 1994 by RCHME, comprises a bank and external ditch, with no surviving entrances. It measures roughly 300 metres north-south by 200 metres east-west, and encloses about 5.5 hectares. The western side is formed by a later field boundary, which has truncated the enclosure. The earthworks delimit an area of low-lying ground on the eastern side of the River Lea, which rises from five springs located just inside the northern edge of the enclosure. There have been three separate episodes of excavation at the site. In 1953, small quantities of prehistoric pottery, including four sherds of Grooved Ware, were recovered from the ditch fill. A small hollow outside the ditch was tentatively identified as a Neolithic hut. In 1971, Grooved Ware sherds were found in the lower ditch fill and on the old ground surface under the bank. The ditch also contained Beaker, Peterborough, Iron Age and Romano-British sherds. In 1982, a pit, said to have been sealed beneath the bank, was excavated. It contained the skeleton of a young pig plus late Neolithic flint flakes. The pig produced a very recent radiocarbon date, and may have been associated with a piggery which once existed near the site. Geophysical survey in 1985 produced mostly negative results, although some possible pits were recorded outside the enclosure. The site has generally been regarded as a Neolithic henge-type enclosure, largely on the basis of the 1953 and 1971 excavations, and by analogy with the larger henge enclosures such as Mount Pleasant (Dorset), Marden, Durrington Walls, and Avebury (all Wiltshire). However, the evidence for dating is hardly unequivocal at present. There is considerable evidence for Iron Age activity in the immediate vicinity as well as stray finds of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age date. The earthwork has been scheduled as a Neolithic enclosure by English Heritage.

Details of henge on Pastscape

Cropmarks of a Late Neolithic henge and a henge type monument located in a field on the north side of the Gadsey Brook, at Dairy Farm, Willington. Cropmarks of a bowl barrow are visible 24 metres north of the henge (Monument HOB UID 1229875).
The henge is situated approximately 270m to the north of the brook and has been reduced by ploughing and is not visible at ground level. However, it is visible as cropmarks which have been recorded by aerial photography on numerous occasions since 1970, and also has been clearly identified by a geophysical survey undertaken in 2004. The henge is defined by an outer circular ditch, about 37m in diameter and an inner ditch of about 22m in diameter. The outer ditch is truncated by a pipe trench on its east side which also cuts through the barrow to the north Monument HOB UID 1229875).
The henge type monument is situated about 24 metres to the east of the henge and has been clearly identified by geophysical survey undertaken in 2004 and by trial trenching in 2005. It is about 32 metres in diameter, and appears as a single circular ditch measuring about 3.7 metres wide and 1.25 metres deep.
These monuments form part of a complex of prehistoric features, also revealed by aerial photography and confirmed by geophysical survey. These include a henge type monument (Monument HOB UID 1174955), a bowl barrow (Monument HOB UID 1229875) and two further barrows (Monument HOB UID 1174298).
The henge and henge type monument are a scheduled monument. For the designation record of this site please see the National List for England.

Details of henge on Pastscape

The buried remains of two bowl barrows and a henge, identified from aerial photographs. The henge is roughly circular in plan and measures 42 metres in diameter. The enclosing ditch is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs. Traces of a possible inner ditch can also be identified. A gap in the south eastern section of the outer ditch may represent a causeway. The remains of the barrows lie south east of the henge, their surrounding ditches also appearing as cropmarks on aerial photographs. The barrow closest to the henge measures 16 metres in total diameter while the second is 22 metres in diameter.

Details of henge on Pastscape

A circular enclosure at Paddock Hill, Thwing, originally identified as a cropmark site. Excavation was undertaken between 1973 and 1987 by T Manby, intitially under the assumption that the site was a henge. However, the excavations revealed a long and complex sequence of use of the site. The earliest activity was represented by some flints of Mesolithic date, including microliths, cores and flakes. Earlier Neolithic activity was also represented solely by artefacts, including flint arrowheads, scrapers and stone axes, plus some sherds of Peterborough Ware. The first major constructional phase occurred in the late Neolithic, when a henge comprising a circular ditch circa 60 metres in diameter with external chalk bank was created. Grooved Ware and Beaker sherds are among the finds associated with the henge, which featured opposed north-west and south-east entrances. The earlier Bronze Age is represented primarily by artefacts, including some flint implements and Food Vessel sherds. The site was extensively remodelled in the Later Bronze Age. The silted-up henge ditch was recut, and a central post circle constructed, 17 metres in diameter and surrounding a central pit containing an urned cremation. Artefacts and other debris of Mid-to-late Bronze Age were also present, including evidence for metalworking activity. Next, a more substantial enclosure was constructed comprising a ditch and internal rampart circa 115 metres in diameter, completely enclosing the earlier enclosure. The rampart featured timber revetment and was retained at its rear by a double row of posts. This enclosure also featured opposed entrances on the same alignment as the earlier henge. Roughly contemporary is a ring slot circa 25 metres in diameter, within and concentric to the earlier henge, and interpreted as a large timber building. The next (comparatively minor) use of the site occurred in the Roman period, and is mainly attested by pottery and brooches. (See TA 07 SW 42 for Anglo-Saxon phase).

Details of henge on Pastscape

A late Neolithic henge, ploughed flat and visible only as a cropmark. Excavations in 1975 and 1977 confirmed that the site comprised a sub circular enclosure (internal diameter circa 15 metres) with two opposed entrances, one to the north and the other to the south, the latter much narrower than the former. Within the enclosure, and concentric to the ditch, was a circle of 30 small pits. 15 were excavated, but none showed any evidence for a post. Within this circle were three large pits and a fourth containing what was interpreted as an empty cist, although there was no evidence that the feature had ever contained a burial. Outside the henge was a circle of large pits (up to 50 metres in diameter), some of which appear to have held posts. 35 metres to the south of the henge was a large pit which had held a large post in its later stages of use. Datable finds included possible Neolithic and Beaker sherds from the henge ditch; Beaker and Food Vessel sherds from the central pits; and six flint barbed and tanged arrowheads from one of the external pits. Radiocarbon dates were obtained on samples from several features, and ranged from 1851+/-62 bc (uncalibrated) to 1655+/-80 bc (uncalibrated). The henge interior was later re-used as an Early Medieval inhumation cemetery (NT 93 SW 60). A double alignment (NT 93 NW 34) circa 180 metres to the north produced Grooved Ware sherds and a broadly similar range of radiocarbon dates.

Details of henge on Pastscape

A late Neolithic henge monument, visible as a cropmark circular enclosure of 35 metres maximum internal diameter, and a ditch up to 7.5 metres wide. There is one visible entrance. A possible second, directly opposite, is obscured by a hedge. Also visible as cropmarks is an internal ring of pits within and concentric to the ditch, while a further smaller central circle of pits appears to surround a large central pit.

Details of henge on Pastscape

A Late Neolithic henge visible as a sub-oval cropmark enclosure. The ditch features two opposed entrance gaps (northwest and southeast), while a cropmark of a large pit is visible within the enclosed area, just off-centre. Internal diameter of the enclosure is between circa 12 and 16 metres. [NB this site had previously been recorded erroneously as NT 93 NE 21 as a result of an incorrect NGR published by McCord and Jobey]

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

Bronze Age Barrow Adjacent to Henge (see HOBUID 1520599). A barrow was revealed on the beach at Easington by tidal action in 1998. The barrow was adjacent to a henge, also revealed by the same tide. The barrow with an external bank and a ditch enclosed a circular area of gravel 9m across with a hearth and the bones of a crouched adult inhumation and sherds of a collared urn in the centre. The whole monument measured 17 metres in diameter. This barrow had preserved evidence of earlier Neolithic settlement beneath. The ditch and bank of this barrow were upstanding and well-defined at the time of estuarine incursion.

Details of henge on Pastscape

A late Neolithic/early Bronze Age henge was revealed by tidal action in 1998 on Easington Beach, marked by a series of rings of gravel, estuarine clay, and dark staining, with an overall diameter of 25-30 metres. Three sections through the monument were cut by machine, revealing two concentric ditches. The inner one enclosed an area about 12m in diameter. There was evidence for a small internal bank, and possibly an external one. A pit containing charcoal and burnt bone, animal and human, had later been cut into the ditch fill, containing the cremation of a young man, who died around cal 2500-2000BC. Black, organically rich soil had accumulated across the surface enclosed by the ditch, and from this were derived pollen samples indicating a date before the well-known decline in lime trees in the 1st millennium BC. The black soil was covered in places by a film of gravel, possibly a new surface created when the outer ditch, enclosing an area of about 20m was dug. The second phase of the monument was perhaps terminated by marine inundation, for the outer ditch was filled with estuarine clay containing marine molluscs. No datable artefacts were found, but the evidence so far implies a broadly Bronze Age date contemporary with the main barrow.

etails of henge on Pastscape

A sub-oval multivallate enclosure, now largely ploughed out. In the absence of excavation, its date is uncertain, but recent opinion suggests that the site may have begun as a henge, and was subsequently re-used in later prehistory as a defensive enclosure. There are two opposed entrances, east and west. The innermost ditch is a very faint cropmark. Outside this is a more substantial ditch, this being regarded by Harding and Lee as the probable henge ditch. Immediately outside this is a bank, which survives as an earthwork on the southern side. Outside this bank are two further ditch circuits, both noticeably narrower than the “henge” ditch. On the northwest side, a narrow double-ditched feature can be seen running concentric to the main ditch, and appears to close off the western entrance. Overall, the internal diameter ranges from 75 metres to 90 metres, and the external diameter from 131 metres to 165 metres.

Details of henge on Pastscape

An earthwork enclosure interpreted as possible Late Neolithic/Bronze Age henge or medieval ringwork. A substantial circular enclosure defined by a broad ditch 15 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep, and a possible outer bank 5 metres wide and 0.75 metres high. Approximate diameter (excluding the possible bank) is 85 metres. There is a clearly defined south eastern entrance with very regular, squared ditch terminals. The site is scheduled as a henge, although in the absence of firm evidence, alternative interpretations, such as a medieval ringwork, cannot be ruled out. Scheduled.

Details of cursus on Pastscape

A neolithic cursus, parts of which have been destroyed through gravel extraction. Excavations (in 1957-8, 1962-3, 1979-81 and 1982-4) have principally occurred around its central area, and towards its southern end. The cursus is at least 2 kilometres in length, and orientated roughly northwest-southeast, though with a marked change in direction around the mid point, just northwest of the henge. Its visible course begins near the River Welland at its northwest end, athough no terminals are visible, these possibly being concealed by alluvium. At this end, the cursus appears to be marked by 4 roughly parallel ditches, the northern pair only visible for a short distance. The two principal ditches are discontinuous, at least as cropmarks, with the southern ditch continuing as far as the Maxey Cut watercourse in the south. The northern ditch seems to end long before this point, having begun to turn south. Examination of air photographs by RCHME in 1997 however noted a 30 metre length of ditch some 140 metres south of the causewayed enclosure TF 10 NW 51, which lies directly on the line of the northern cursus ditch and which turns through 90 degrees, possibly indicating a terminal. Around the mid-point, in the excavated area, the cursus ditches were around 58 metres apart, and 2 metres wide. Both were very shallow with no clear evidence either for a bank or for episodes of recutting. A discontinuous layer of comminuted charcoal was noted near the base of both. It is not in situ burning but could be associated with land clearance. Finds were minimal, and no real dating evidence recovered. However, both ditches appear to have been fully silted up by the time the henge and associated features (TF 10 NW 59) were constructed. These later Neolithic monuments, although constructed over the cursus, appear not to respect the course of the cursus, and follow a different (east-west) alignment. Some Beaker pottery was found in the southern ditch, near the causewayed enclosure.

Details of henge on Pastscape

Site of a Neolithic henge at Maxey, excavated in 1986. The henge lay in an area where the gravel pit was being extended northwards. At least three different phases are apparent. A continuous ditch surrounding a setting of 8 massive post-holes. This was folowed by the digging of another, but segmented, ditch, and the infilling of at least one post-hole. The second phase consisted of a roughly circular chain of large pits through the, by then, filled-in, earlier ditches. These pits showed evidence of deliberate infilling shortly after digging. The final phase consisted of a continuous ditch, roughly circular, around the outside. This feature had been filled in to half its depth and `placed’ deposits were found atop and within the backfilling.These placed depoiits included two deposits of Ebbsware, a flint axe, and items of deer antler.

Details of henge on Pastscape

A henge plus later Bronze Age settlement excavated in 1989-90 during work in advance of the A27 Brighton bypass. The henge ditch was circa 35 metres in diameter. Silting patterns suggested an external bank. An entrance gap existed to the south east, while another is suggested on the north west. An upright sandstone block was found just within the latter entrance, while a crouched female inhumation is also assumed to be associated with the enclosure rather than later activity. Dating evidence for the enclosure includes Neolithic pottery and a leaf-shaped arrowhead. Three later Bronze Age terraced hut platforms were also excavated, one clearly post-dating the inhumation, and large quantities of Late Bronze Age pottery were also found.

Details of henge on Pastscape

The buried remains of a Late Neolithic henge situated some 2km south of the River Stour and to the north of dwellings at Boxted Cross. The henge is no longer visible on the ground, although its infilled ditches and central pit-like features can be seen from the air as cropmarks. First identified as a henge on morphological grounds in 1975, the monument has since been targed by aerial survey and showed up particularly well in June 1980 and August 1983 when photographed by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England and local aerial photographer Mrs Ida McMaster. The henge is defiend by a broad circular, penannular ditch, infilled and buried, with two opposing entrances to the north and south. The external diameter of the ditched enclosure is some 40 metres; the ditch itself is 5 metres wide, giving an internal diameter of some 30 metres. The henge would originally have had an external bank, and although this has long since been reduced by ploughing, a 5 metre wide margin is included in the scheduling in order to protect surviving archaeological traces. Several large pit-like features are clearly visible as cropmarks within the area delimited by the ditch and bank, and these are considered to represent features related to the ritual use of the enclosure. Scheduled.

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

((Group centred SY 15909580) Tumuli (NR) (1) (A: SY 15949575) Fox 18, Hutchinson 34. Ditched barrow, steep sided and flat topped, planted with firs.
Diameter 71ft., height 4ft.6ins., (2). 300 yards north west of Farway Castle. Apparently unexcavated, but the barrow has been enclosed by a deep, narrow, trench, probably to keep cattle off when it was planted with firs. (3).
(B: SY 15909582). Fox 17. A flint cairn, diameter 12ft., height 1ft.6ins. (2). Destroyed 1949 (4).
(C: SY 15889583). Fox 16. A flint cairn diameter 12ft., height 1ft.6ins., flattened by plough recently (2).
(B and C not recorded by Hutchinson). (2-4)
A: A flat topped barrow, tree and bracken covered, the mound 22.0 metres in diameter and 1.2 metres high. Both the sides of the mound and the ditch, 2.0 metres wide and 0.4 metres deep, are sharply defined suggesting an 18th/19th century enhancement. Recent ploughing has destroyed the southern extremity of the ditch but has not yet encroached upon the mound. (See ground photograph).
B: No trace at all; bracken but very little gorse at the site.
C: A much ploughed cairn, currently under new pasture. It measures 7.0 metres north to south and 5.5 metres east to west; height 0.3 metres maximum. Flints exposed in the top.
A and C surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (5)
A: Scheduled, No.132a. For the designation record of this site please see The National Heritage List for England. (6 -7)
C: Scheduled, No.129a For the designation record of this site please see The National Heritage List for England. (7-8)
Bowl barrow 320m north west of Farway Castle. The monument is situated on the west side of the crest of the ridge, and includes a bowl barrow 11m in diameter and 0.3m in height. There is no evidence of a ditch. The barrow has been ploughed over in the past.. Scheduled . For the designation record of this site please see The National Heritage List for England. (9-10)

Details of henge on Pastscape

Farway castle. Recently surveyed (2011) and found to comprise three elements: a circular bank, an external ditch and a counterscarp bank. The bank encloses a circular area 51m N/S and 50m E/W; the whole site measures 73m N/S and 72m E/W. There are several hollows in the bottom of the ditch which may be original features showing how the ditch was dug in segments, or which may be the result of modification in the post-medieval period. Considered by the survey to be a henge monument from the late Neolithic Early Bronze Age. Previously interpreted as a Danish Fort, hill fort, Bronze Age ritual monument and Iron Age earthwork enclosure. Scheduled

Details of henge on Pastscape

A probable Neolithic henge visible as cropmarks on air photographs. The enclosure is sub-oval and is a maximum of 60 metres across. Two roughly opposed entrances are visible, on the west and east sides. Within the enclosed area are cropmarks representing an irregular oval arrangement of 19 large post holes or pits. The monument is just visible on the gound, the bank surviving to a height of 0.3 metres and up to 1.5 metres wide. Fieldwalking has recovered over 800 flints from the field, including Mesolithic types as well as later Neolithic arrowheads and scrapers. A linear cropmark feature runs roughly north-south past the monument and appears to bow slightly in order to avoid the henge.

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Oval cropmark, diameter c.25 m of henge monument, class II, with opposed entrances known from JK St Joseph AP’s BCG82-84. Ditch is encircled by series of pits. Neolithic flints from fieldwalking include cores and scrapers. (See also TF 27 SW/14). (1-2)
TF 254 716. Shearman’s Wath henge. Scheduled no. LI/265. (3)
Small sub-circular enclosure, known from cropmarks, situated at c 36.5m above OD. Enclosure is defined by faint, irregular cropmarks of a ditch with an entrance to the NW; a less certain entrance to the SE and a possible break to the ESE. The enclosure is surrounded by a partial circuit of pits of which 19 are visible.Internal diameter 17-5-18.5m. Described by Harding and Lee as a probable henge. (4)
The Neolithic or Bronze Age henge referred to by the previous authorities was seen as cropmarks and mapped from good quality air photographs. The henge has an internal diameter of c20m and the diameter of the outer ring of pits is c26m. The henge is more accurately located at TF 2538 7168. (Morph No. LI.138.1.1)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.

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The Bull Ring, a Henge monument, extant as an earthwork, comprising a sub-oval enclosure defined by a ditch and external bank. The site has been damaged in the past by quarrying, while there are also traces of ridge and furrow in the interior. The maximum external diameter is circa 85 metres. The bank is circa 1.1 metres high and up to 9.8 metres wide. The ditch is up to 12.2 metres wide and 0.6 metres deep. There are two opposing causewayed entrances at the north and south. Excavation has occurred on three occasions – the bank was sectioned in 1902; some potsherds, possibly Beaker/Early Bronze Age were found. In 1949 several trenches across bank and ditch were dug, and some investigation of both entrances occurred. Two possible Beaker sherds were found, one apparently below the ditch silts. The ditch also contained flint flakes and scrapers plus some ox bones and teeth. In 1984-5 a large area outside the southern entrance was investigated. Only undated and post medieval features were found, although some flints were present. An 18th century source states that the enclosure once contained a stone setting. In 1789, apparently, only a single stone remained.

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(SX 37086854) Henge (NR) (1) A Class 1 henge near Castlewich. (See plan from OS 1:2500 1953). Both bank and ditch have been heavily ploughed down and there is no trace of the outer slope in the surrounding fields. The bank is 2ft 6 ins high, its northern half having a massive stone-faced hedge on its crest.
It is difficult to be sure if there is a causeway over the ditch at the entrance. (Listed under ‘Camps’ by DOE (IAM). (2-4)
(SX 371 686) Henge included in gazetteer and distribution of Neolithic sites in Cornwall. (5)
Castlewitch. Sub-circular enclosure situated just below 183m OD on the slope of Balstone Down. Both bank and ditch have been heavily ploughed down, no certain causeway. Insufficient information available, but possible lack of entrance makes henge affinity unlikely. (6)

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(SD 98238730) Castle Dykes (NR). (1) SD 982873 – Class I henge consisting of an oval enclosure (175 x 195 ft) bounded by a well-preserved ditch and external bank with entrance of E side. Two small gaps in the bank (without corresponding causeways across the ditch) are probably modern and used as an
overflow for water collecting in the ditch. There is no sign of any stone structure in the central area. (2)
A well preserved Class I henge. Prominently situated at SD 98238728 on the top (though not the summit) of an east to west hill spur. It measures 74.0m east to west by 67.8m north to south between the centres of the bank 9.0m wide and 1.2m high. The ditch, averaging 10.5m wide and 1.1m deep, has been slightly infilled by weathering especially near the entrance, 4.0m wide, in the east which has lessened the profile of the causeway. As suggested two small gaps
in the bank in the north east and south are merely mutilation. The level interior is featureless. Surveyed at 1:10 000. (3)
Entry in corpus. Sub-circular enclosure defined by a ditch and outer bank. A large stone is situated on the inside slope of the bank in the SE sector and there are reports of other stones having been removed. Comment: Insufficient information available, but cannot be ruled out as henge-related. (4)
SD 9822 8728. Castle Dykes Henge. Scheduled RSM No 24481. It is reported that an excavation of the site by Canon Wylie took place in 1908, though no positive trace of this survives and the site appears largely undisturbed. (5)

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(SX 0310 6275) Earthwork (NR) (1)
`Castilly` (name probably derived from `Castel), an oval earthwork with internal ditch, and entrances on north and south, the latter recognisably not original. Variously described by early writers as a castle or a Plain-an-gwarry (amphitheatre for religious plays), but thought from its form to be a Class I henge. Excavated by Charles Thomas and the Cornish Arch Soc in 1962. The excavation (in cental area and at the two entrances) produced very little dating material – two flint flakes and two pottery pieces of probably 12 – 14 c date. It was shown that the southern entrance was secondary and the northern original, though overlaid with gravel in which were deep wheel-marks.
The ditches lacked the expected amount of silting. It was concluded that there was a Class I Henge in the first place, and that this had been remodelled as a Plain-an-gwarry in medieval times. Probably also the work had been used as a gun emplacement in the Civil War (which would explain the wheel-ruts in the north entrance), with perhaps further modification. (2)
SX 03116274. The henge which is 70.0 metres by 60.0 metres is situated on a slight north slope with the entrance on the downhill side and a gap on the S uphill side. The internal ditch is up to 1.7 metres deep and well defined; a narrow berm separates it from the bank. The average height of the bank is 1.4 metres above ground level and it has been mutilated in places especially on the north-west and south sides (the latter by a field hedge). Resurveyed at 1:2500. (3) (SX 031 627) Included in gazetteer and distribution map Neolithic Site in Cornwall. (4)
Castilly. Sub-oval enclosure. Listed by Harding and Lee as a possible henge. (5)

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This henge monument is visible as earthworks and cropmarks on air photos. It appears to comprise an inner ditch circuit describing a near-circular enclosure approximately 100m in diameter. There are two opposed causewayed entrances facing near north and south. This circuit is irregular in width, varying between 4m and 10m and may have been cut in individual sections. Surrounding the ditch is an outer bank. Similar to the ditch it appears to compromise of several straight lengths of bank rather than a smooth curve, especially on the western side. The embanked circuit has an internal diameter of approximately 150m. The tone of the crop around the bank is quite different from the rest of the field and this is interpreted here as an indication of a shallow hollow. This feature is present on the inner and outer sides of the bank and around some of the bank terminals at the two entrances. A double ditched linear feature aligned between the two entrances is visible as a cropmark within the southern half of the henge. This may have marked an avenue leading to the centre of the monument, where slower ripening crops indicate a slight hollow. The southern edge of this monument is clipped by a modern field boundary, the henge banks appeared to survive as slight earthworks on 1971 air photos but no upstanding remains were apparent on the 2009 Google Earth air photos. (7-10)

Details of henge on Pastscape

A henge monument located some 500 metres to the east of the monument complex at West Cotton, and excavated as part of the Raunds area project. The site had initially been identified as a cropmark on air photographs. The monument comprises two concentric sub-circular ditches, the outer measuring between 70 and 75 metres across, with the long axis orientated northwest-southeast. The inner circuit is circa 21 metres in diameter. Geophysical survey and excavation was undertaken in 1993 by the Central Excavation Unit. Previously the area had been fieldwalked as part of the Raunds Area Survey and had produced the most extensive surface flint scatter from within the Raunds area. The outer ditch circuit is continuous and may have been accompanied by an internal bank. The area inside the inner ditch may have been mounded. Few artefacts were found, and no samples suitable for radiocarbon dating were recovered. Flint artefacts from the ditch fills are broadly Neolithic, but otherwise not particularly diagnostic, and it has not proved possible to establish a relative sequence for the various phases of the monument. However, both ditches appear to have been deliberately backfilled, possibly as a single episode. Several post holes were examined, but generally proved undatable with the exception of an Iron Age four-post structure just outside the outer ditch, dating evidence being some potsherds. Despite its distance from the West Cotton monuments, the henge is clearly related to them – when projected eastwards, the axis of the long mound (SP 97 SE 85) passes through the henge.