Chance

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Three bowl barrows:-
Winsford 1, SS 87563431. 33 paces diameter and 3.5 ft high.
Winsford 2, SS 87613430. 21 paces diameter and 4 ft high with large hollow in centre.
Winsford 3, SS 87683428. 25 paces diameter and 5 ft high with hollow in centre. (4)
The most western (Grinsell’s Winsford 1) has been truncated and is 1.3m high.
The central barrow (Winsford 2) has had an irregular pit dug into the top and has a maximum height of 1.7m.
The eastern barrow, 1.7m high, has had a pit 1.1m deep dug into the top.
Wambarrows listed, details as Authy 4. Visited by Grinsell 6th April 1958. The Wambarrows were mentioned in a boundary perambulation of 1219. (6)

Wambarrows, mentioned in Exmoor Forest perambulations of 1219 and 1279 as `Wamburg’ and `Wimbureghe’ respectively.
This group of three barrows with an outlier (see SS 83 SE 3) occupy the summit of Winsford Hill and have panoramic views. They lie on heather moorland now owned by the National Trust. The group is close to the modern B3223, and an adjacent lay-by results in considerable visitor access, which has caused some erosion of the barrows themselves and the surrounding ground surface (see individual descriptions below). Winsford Hill is largely covered with a late medieval/post-medieval field system comprising earthen banks and ridge and furrow. This system has encroached on the barrows in several places.

SS 8756 3432 (Grinsell Winsford 1). A heather and grass-covered circular mound measuring 27.7 m N-S by 28.8 m and 1.8 m high. The summit is uneven and slopes noticably to the north, suggesting that the barrow, which is skirted on its southern side by a field bank, has been overploughed by ridge and furrow.
The barrow has been further disturbed by a modern track which passes it on its northern side.

SS 8761 3430 (Grinsell, Winsford 2). This barrow has been fenced around to protect it from erosion. It consists of a circular mound 17.6 m in diameter with a very disturbed summit. The eastern part of the summit survives to its original height (1.8 m), whilst the central and western part has been extensively robbed away, probably for road building, and is now only 0.9 m high. Subsequent to this robbing, a sub rectangular pit, 5.3 m by 3.4 m and 0.6 m deep has been dug into the south-western quadrant.

SS 8768 3429 (Grinsell, Winsford 3). A very well defined barrow, comprising a circular mound 21.7 m in diameter and 1.9 m high. A massive, steep-sided, sub-square pit, 8-9 m across, has been dug into its centre, leaving only an outer rim standing.
The barrow lies in the corner of a former field, and is skirted by a field bank on its eastern and southern sides. Very slight north-south ridge and furrow runs up onto the barrow on its north-eastern quadrant. More recent disturbance has taken place in the form of an OS triangulation pillar mentioned by Grinsell as being on the barrow, but which is now close by on its south-eastern side. Visitor erosion has caused extensive erosion, but this is now being managed through the use of nylon meshing to consolidate and preserve the ground surface. (8)

SS 876343. Wambarrows on Winsford Hill, forming part of a barrow cemetery. Scheduled. (9)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[ST 1473 3836 and ST 1475 3836] TUMULI [G.T.] Two (Grinsells’ Holford No. 8 and No. 10) bowl barrows; the western is 0.9 m high and the other 1.6 m high.
Between them, at ST 1473 3836, is a small mound 0.6 m high, which may be a very small barrow. Listed as a bowl barrow (Holford No. 9) by Grinsell.
See G.Ps AO/65/118/4 & 5. Published 1/2500 survey revised. (2-3)
Two Bronze Age bowl barrows and a possible third on Black Hill. The dimentions are 13 metres, 5 metres and 12 metres in daiameter and 1.5 metres, 0.5 metres and 1.3 metres in height. Scheduled. (4) One of the possible Bronze Age barrows described above is visible on aerial photographs. It is centred at ST 1473 3836 and can be seen as a mound with a diameter of 14m. Thick gorse and heather obscure the other barrows. A triple barrow forms part of the Black Hill linear barrow cemetery. The site lies on the northern side of Stert Combe, overlooking Higher Hare Knap, at ST 1473 3836. The site comprises the earthwork remains of three barrows: two large barrows with a small barrow in between. The east mound is 14m in diameter and 1.5m high. The west mound is slightly smaller, being 11m in diameter and 1.5m high. The southwest side of this mound has been cut by the packhorse way which runs E/W just to the south of the site. The central mound is 6m in diameter and 1m high. Although no encircling ditch can be seen, the close proximity of these three mounds suggests that they may be classified as a triple barrow: the only such site on the Quantock Hills. The site was recorded at a scale of 1:200 as part of the EH survey of the Quantock Hills AONB using differential GPS (6).

Details of Cairn on Pastscape

[ST 1336 3963:] Cairn, 13 paces x 4 ft. (1,2) This feature, at ST 1336 3963, is a disturbed bowl barrow 0.7 m high (See GPs AO/65/123/3 & 4). Surveyed at 1/2500. (3) The possible Bronze Age round barrow, described above, is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. It is visible as a mound with a diameter of 18m. It is situated on a north east facing slope of Black Ball Hill at 315m above OD.(4-5)
A large Bronze Age burial cairn lies to the northeast of the summit of Black Ball Hill, on a small spur between Ladys Edge and Slaughterhouse Combe, at ST 13366 39632. The cairn comprises a stony, circular mound, 15m in diameter and 1.2m high. There is some disturbance on the top of the mound. It was recorded using differential GPS as part of the EH survey of the Quantock Hills AONB (6).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SS 87342859) ANSTEY BARROW (NR) A round barrow 12.0m in diameter and 1.5m high, with no visible ditch. Mutilated in the centre and on the north side. Situated in moorland. (2)
SS 87357 28585. This barrow is situated at about 332m above OD on the eastern summit of East Anstey Common. The rather flattish ridge top is mainly covered by rough grass with a scattering of heather and bracken. The barrow does not appear to be scheduled (3a).
The barrow is evident as a turf, bracken and gorse-covered, flat-topped, earth and stone mound 9.5m in diameter and 1m in height. There is a central hollow, about 2m diameter and 0.7m deep accessed by the remains of an open `excavation’ trench, from the ESE. The spoil has been dumped around the hollow and along both sides of the trench, raising the barrow height by some 0.4m. There are remains of a surrounding ditch and bank, about 1.5m wide and 0.7m high now in a very poor condition and best seen around the NW and NE. Elsewhere it has either gone, eroded or is hidden under the gorse around the southern arc.
Published survey accepted. (3-5)
A round barrow is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, centred on circa SS 87352858. The mound is roughly circular in shape, although appears slightly irregular in plan, measuring up to circa 11 metres in diameter. The central hollow is visible, but vegetation obscures any trace of surviving surrounding ditch or outer bank. (6-7)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 00553486] Wiveliscombe Barrow (NR) Brompton Regis 2. Bowl barrow 23 paces diameter, 8’ 6” high. (2)
A large well preserved bowl barrow 2.0m high. An excavation trench has recently been cut by an unknown person. See GP AO/65/182/5. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)
ST 005348 Wiveliscombe Barrow, round barrow. Scheduled (4)ST 00563486. Brompton Regis 2. Wiveliscombe barrow listed, details as Auth 2. Visited by Grinsell 11th May 1952. He suspects that the name Wiveliscombe Barrow may possibly have been originated by the Ordnance Survey during the original survey of 1790-1810 for convenience of reference. It is named Eastern Barrow on the 1833 tithe map.
The Bronze Age bowl barrow described by the previous authorities was seen as an earthwork and mapped from aerial photographs. The excavation trench described by authority 3 was also visible. (6-7)
Wiveliscombe Barrow survives as a circular turf-covered mound 20.5 m in diameter and 2.3 m high. The barrow is well defined, and stands in the corner of an improved pasture field. Previous ploughing operations have cut into the base of the mound giving an abrupt end to the base of the scarp. Damage caused by ?sheep or animal burrowing has recently been repaired with patches of fresh soil. The excavation refered to by previous authorities is visible in the south-west quadrant of the barrow. It comprises a trench 7.8 m long by 2 m wide and 0.4 m deep. It runs south-west to north-east. Field visit as part of RCHME’s Exmoor Project, 12 March 1999. (8)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

SS 94844423. Minehead 1.
SS 94874422. Minehead 2.

Two bowl barrows on Periton Hill listed, both 11 paces diameter and 2ft high. Minehead 2 has had the south side impinged upon and destroyed by a trackway. Visited by Grinsell in May 1967 when under heath. “These two barrows seem to be shown on OS 2in MS Map c 1809” (What Grinsell refers to is the 2” drawing of 1802-3, where an ambiguous feature is shown at this location but appears to be on the south side of a trackway. Nothing is shown here on OS 1” first edition 1809. (1) Grinsell’s Minehead 1 is clearly visible at SS 9484 4423, 15 m north of the OS triangulation pillar. It comprises a turf-covered mound 0.5 m high and 12 m in diameter. A modern path runs over its south side, and here beside the path a bench has been placed on the barrow. The northern part is currently in dense scrub, comprising silver birch, brambles, gorse and heather. Grinsell’s Minehead 2 could not be located. Minehead 1 surveyed at 1:2500 scale, July 1997. (2)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[A] SS 88383718. A round barrow 18 paces diameter and 3ft high.[B] SS 88403716. Round barrow 11 paces diameter, 1.5ft high. (1)
Two barrows first reported by Leslie Grinsell in 1967 (see source 1 above). The sites do not appear to have been published in his `Somerset Barrows’ of 1969. (2)The two barrows are centred at SS 8840 3715 on the saddle of Staddon Hill. They lie in improved pasture fields and are no more than 20 m apart (centre to centre).SS 88392 37160 (`A’ on OS 1:10,000 record map). A prominent, dome-like, circular, earthen mound 16.5 m in diameter and 0.7 m high. SS 88407 37146 (`B’ on OS 1:10,000 record map). A circular earthen mound 10.8 m in diameter and 0.4 m high. Surveyed at 1:2500 scale, 16th September 1997. (3)
Two Bronze Age round barrows can be seen on aerial photographs as low earthworks on Staddon Hill. The larger, westernmost of the two, is clearly visible on aerial photographs as a mound circa 16 metres in diameter centred on circa SS 88383716. The second, smaller earthwork, discernible only as a very subtle feature circa 10 metres in diameter, at circa SS 88403714. The earthworks have probably been significantly denuded by post-medieval agricultural improvements, visible immediately to the east as narrow ridge and furrow. (4)

Details of Stone on Pastscape

SS 73843870. An isolated single stone on Ricksy Ball. It is of slate or shale, now leaning and is 0.32m wide and 0.17m high. Found 31-4-90
(Ground photograph supplied) (1).
Not investigated: although isolated, other similar stones occur on Ricksy Ball, all of which appear to be natural surface stones or `outcrop’ (2).

Details of barrows on Pastscape

Four bowl barrows not published by OS:- Exmoor No.20, SS 79193550, is 19 paces diameter and 2 ft high, and has a hollow in the centre. Exmoor Nos. 21a and b, adjoining mounds at SS 79243549. 21a, the NE mound, is 7 paces diameter by 1.5ft. high and is ditched. 21b, the SW mound, is 7 paces diameter by 2.5 ft.high and is also ditched. Exmoor No 22, SS 79413548, is mutilated and was first discovered from A.Ps. It is 11 paces in diameter and 2ft high. (1)
Grinsell’s No. 20, at SS 79213554 is a truncated bowl barrow 0.6m high. 22, at SS 79433548, has been almost completely destroyed. A small oval mound 0.6 m high is all that remains though the original extent of the barrow can be traced as a crop mark. Surveyed at 1/2500.
21a and b, at SS 79253552 are both small square mounds enclosed by a slight ditch. They do not seem to be of any great age and may be drying platforms associated with peat digging (2)
Exmoor 20 and 22. Bowl barrows listed, details as Authy 1. Visited by Grinsell 27th Sept 1961 and 23rd April 1962. Known as Sherdon Barrows(together with SS 73 NE 4), and so called in Chase records of 1794 and1819(a).Exmoor 21a and 21b. Listed as ‘doubtful or rejected’. (3)
(SS 79213554) Tumulus (NR)(SS 79433548) Tumulus (NR) (4)
Grinsell No 20, centred at SS 7921 3554 on open moorland, consists of a truncated, turf & reed-covered stony mound 16.5m in diameter (summit diameter of 13m) and 0.4m high.A narrow slot has been driven through the south edge and opens out into a rectangular pit, measuring 3.5m by 6.5m and 0.4m deep, to the south of the centre of the mound. This, and the truncated form of the mound are the result of stone robbing activity.
Grinsell No 22, centred at SS 7943 3548 in improved pasture, consists of a turf-covered oval mound measuring 7.3m north-south by 9.5m and 0.3m high. Around the mound is a swathe of disturbed ground which probably corresponds with the “cropmark” mentioned by source 2. This presumably represents the former extent of the barrow, and would have given a diameter of 13.2m.
The possible peat drying platforms, mentioned by source 2, are centred at SS 7925 3552. They consist of a pair of adjacent turf covered mounds enclosed within a shallow ditch. The eastern, flat-topped mound is rectangular, measuring 6.2m by 7.3m and 0.4m high. The western mound is sub-circular and measured 6.3m in diameter and is 0.5m high. The two mounds are separated by a shallow ditch. Both lie within a rectangular area measuring 15.5m by 8.5m and defined by a sharp-sided ditch 1m wide and 0.3m deep. The purpose of the mounds is unclear. The sharpness of the enclosing ditch suggests a Post-Medieval date.
Source 2’s classification as peat drying mounds is unfounded. Local information (source 7) states that peat was never dried on mounds or platforms within memory. Source 8 suggests that on Bodmin Moor where similar features have been identified and so classified, the mounds represent peat charcoal production sites. However, there is no known documentary evidence for peat charcoal production on Exmoor. (6-8)
The mounds described above are clearly visible on aerial photographs, although only one small sub-rectangular square (identified as a peat stand) can be seen. It is clearly very different in size and form to the larger barrows at SS 7921 3554 and SS 7943 3548. The mounds lie in an area of extensive peat cutting, and it is possible that the sub-rectangular mound is related to this activity (9).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

SS 804433 (approx) Exmoor 27, Longcombe Burrow shown on map of 1819 (in Authy 2). If correctly marked it is on the Exmoor/Oare boundary, but Exmoor 11 (SS 84 SW 19) is not far away. (1)
In the perambulation of September 1815 the boundary is described as proceeding in “an easterly direction along several Boundary Stones through a place called Lannicombe Burrows (SS 84 SW 46) to a Boundary Stone in the centre of a Burrow called Long Comb Burrow” (2). The barrow is shown on a map of 1816 (in Authy 3) on the Oare Common boundary about half-way between Badgworthy Water and Toms Hill Corner but MacDermot (2) states that it has “entirely vanished”. The material was probably used during construction of the forest wall (a wall around the boundary of the former Exmoor Forest was constructed in 1820-4). (2-3)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

A group of three barrows, only two of which survive as visible earthworks. The third was destroyed in 1913 to provide stone for road building. The easternmost barrow survives as an earth and stone rim about 0.5 metres high with an average width of 6 metres. An irregularly shaped mound lies within the rim. This mound has a maximum diameter of 12.5 metres and stands 1.4 metres high. It is topped by an OS triangulation pillar. The rim is surrounded by an outer ditch which is visible on the south eastern side as a shallow depression. The second barrow lies to the west and is visible as a slight ring bank 4.2 metres wide, up to 0.75 metres high and with a maximum overall diameter of 19 metres. This encloses an uneven, slightly raised area of ground which represents the remains of the bowl barrow mound.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A bowl barrow visible as a turf-covered earth and stone mound of 2.8m maximum height. The diameter varies between 31.4m and 17m. Untypically for Exmoor it has a retaining kerb which has been robbed on the eastern side. The barrow has been robbed or “excavated” from the SE, the spoil form which has been dumped on the summit creating a false top. Surrounding the barrow there are traces of a ditch about 2.5m to 3m wide and 0.1m in depth. The barrow is crossed by an enclosure wall which marks the county boundary between Devon and Somerset. The barrow was alleged to have a trig point inserted but there is no immediate evidence for this.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 84153241] Old Barrow (NR) Withypoole No 7, a bowl barrow 13 paces diameter and 2.5 ft. high with a hollow in the centre. It is enclosed by a bank with outer ditch which is not concentric with the barrow and is clearly a tree-clump enclosure, probably 18th century. (2)Scheduled. (3)
Old Barrow is at SS 84083244, the feature has been omitted from the OS6 inch and the name erroneously applied to a pit. It appears to be a very robbed bowl barrow, 0.9m high the bank mentioned by Grinsell is not well defined and has only slight traces of an outer ditch. Although clearly later than the barrow it is not certainly a tree-ring, and it may have been formed when the barrow was robbed. (See GPs AO/65/192/5 & 6).Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4)SS 84093244. Withypoole 7. Old Barrow listed, details as Authy 2.Visited by Grinsell 25th May 1958. (5)
[SS 84083244] Old Barrow (NR) (6)
Old Barrow, a prehistoric barrow, is centred at SS 84083244 at the eastern end of the ridge forming Old Barrow Down. It is a circular earth and stone mound, 20.9m in diameter and 1.2m high and has been heavily disturbed by robbing or excavation trenches. These appear as two, sharp-sided, concentric circular cuttings 1.5m wide and 0.3m deep. Their shallowness suggests that they are less likely to be stone robbing trenches and more likely to be the result of an antiquarian attempt to define a kerb within the monument. Such an event does not appear to be documented but has been noted elsewhere on Exmoor (see SS 83 SW 2 and SS 73 NW 10 (D)).
Aspect: Old Barrow has extensive views in all directions.Vegetation: Grass with some reeds. (7)
The probable Bronze Age round barrow known as Old Barrow is clearly visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards.On the aerial photographs available to the survey the monument can be seen as a mound circa 10 metres in diameter with evidence of disturbance visible as an off-centre pit about 4.5 metres in diameter. The mound appears to be enclosed by a narrow bank which in turn is surrounded by a ditch less than 1.5 metres wide, and finally an outer bank. It is possible these are also evidence of antiquarian disturbance as suggested by authority 7 above. (8-11)

Details of Cairn on Pastscape

[ST 1572 3970] TUMULUS [GT] Descending Dowsborough in its direction of Holford, is a large cairn lying on the slope to the right of the green path. It is surrounded by a shallow trench. (2)
(13) A ruined cairn with two recent stone heaps in middle. Low mound enclosed by ditch and outer bank. Query whether saucer barrow or steading of an outpost to the hillfort. Overall 19 paces x 3/4 ft. (3)
This is a robbed cairn. The unsurveyable traces of a ditch and outer bank seem to have resulted from robbing stone from just within the rim and thereby producing a shallow trench. The cairn is 0.4m high excluding the modern stone heaps.Surveyed at 1/2500. (4)
The possible Bronze Age round barrow or cairn, described by the previous authorities, survives as earthworks on a slope overlooking Knacker’s Hole. It is visible on aerial photographs as an amorphous mound, with a diameter of 14.5m, surrounded by a ring ditch with a diameter of 19m. The cairn appears to have been dug into, possibly for stone, and some of the material from the mound appears to have been dumped over the ditch. It is situated amid a Medieval and/or Post Medieval field system (ST 13 NE 98)but it is unclear if it has ploughed around or over.
(5-7)An embanked platform cairn lies at the head of an un-named combe, above Knackers Hole, at ST 1572 3970. The cairn comprises a circular, flat-topped mound, 19m in diameter and 0.8m high, with an incomplete bank around its periphery. The interior of the site is rather disturbed, but the mound, 4m in diameter and 0.8m high in the south of the interior is most likely to an original feature.
The site was recorded at a scale of 1:200 using graphic methods as part of the EH survey of the Quantock Hills AONB (8).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 96493571) Cutcombe Barrow (NR). Brompton Regis No.1, a bowl barrow 23 paces diameter and 3.5 ft.high. (2)
This is a bowl barrow 1.3 m. high. Surveyed at 1/2500. (3)
SS 96503571. Brompton Regis 1. Cutcombe Barrow listed, details as Authy 2. Visited by Grinsell 10th May 1952. He suspects that the name Cutcombe Barrow may possibly have been originated by the OrdnanceSurvey during the original survey of 1790-1810 for convenience of referece. It is named Western Barrow on the 1838 tithe map (but the present name appears on OS 1” first edition 1809). (4)
The barrow known as Cutcombe Barrow lies at the edge of a pasture field, and measures 22 m in diameter and 1.7 m high. It comprises a smoothed grass covered mound. On its eastern side the hedgebank clips the edge of the barrow and several large quartz blocks are visible on the ground. (5)
The remains of the Bronze Age bowl barrow described by the previous authorities was seen as an earthwork and mapped from aerial photographs. (6)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

Bowl barrow, known as Leather Barrow, on Withiel Hill. The earth and stone barrow mound measures 23 metres in diameter and 3.3 metres high. It stands at the junction of three boundary banks which form the remains of a field system (NMR 1128212) of possible post medieval date and may have been used as a point of alignment during the construction of the banks. The boundary which runs south from the junction forms part of the Luxborough and Treborough parish boundary.

Details of cairn on Pastscape

[SS 9082 4278] Joaney How [NR]
[SS 9082 4278] Joaney How (Beacon) [NR]. (1-2)
Cairn or beacon known as “Joaney How” or (a) “Yonney How” on Luccombe Hill. A structure of piled stones much mutilated and having several depressions with ridges between. The surface stones are very loose as if moved in recent times. On the top is a roughly conical pile of stones, wide at the bottom, and about 3ft. in height, again, possibly rebuilt after destruction. Diameter of exposed stones – about 62ft. Scheduled under Burial Mounds.
This is a disturbed cairn 1.7 metres high. (See G.P.s AO/65/126/1 and 2.) Grinsell lists it as Luccombe No. 4; and although he records a “partly visible” ditch no certain traces can be identified. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (5)
[SS 9082 4279] Luccombe 4. Joaney How, a mutilated cairn 27 paces diameter and 5ft. high, surmounted by a modern stone-heap. Ditch partly visible. Visited by Grinsell Whitsun 1958. Joaney How and Robin How (SS 94 SE 2) were shown as Luckham Barrows on O.S. 1” first edition 1809, and as Luccombe Barrows on the map by
W. C. Cox 1829 and in Savage (c). The earliest appearance of Robin and Joaney How on the maps appears to be on the O.S. 6” 1889. (6)
Joaney How, Robin How (SS 94 SW 2) and adjacent mount (SS 94 SW 4).
Scheduled. (7)
A large cairn, known as Joaney How, lies on the edge of a natural terrace in a false crest position on the N slope of Dunkery Hill at SS 90813 42789. It comprises a circular stony mound, enclosed by a heather covered ring, 22m in diameter and 1.8m high. The stony mound is flat topped. The evidence for this being the site of a beacon comes from the OS 25” first edition map (Somerset 34.14), there is no other evidence that this was the case. The cairn was surveyed using differential GPS as part of the RCHME Exmoor Project (8).
Round cairn known as Joaney How. Part of a round cairn cemetery on Dunkery Hill. Traditionally thought to be named after Little John. Scheduled. (9)
The cairn known as Joaney How has been transcribed as earthworks from aerial photographs as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The cairn appears to be circa 24 metres in diameter and centred on circa SS 90814279. It is one of eight cairns recorded as part of the survey in this area, although more are present but not visible on the aerial photographs available. (10-11)

Details of cairn on Pastscape

[SS 9077 4272] Robin How [NR] [SS 9077 4272] Robin How (Beacon) [NR]
Cairn of beacon known as “Robin How” on the Luccombe-Wootton Courtney parish boundary. On it there are two conical erections one to N., one to S., each about 3ft. high. Between them the mound has a flat top composed of smaller stones than elsewhere. Diameter of exposed stones about 62ft., height above the moor excluding the surmounting stone heaps – 6ft. (3) Scheduled under Burial Mounds (4). (3)(4)
This is a disturbed cairn 1.6 metres high and listed by Grinsell as Luccombe No. 3. As Grinsell suggests, a quarry pit 0.7 metres deep against the east side of the cairn probably provided its material.
(See G.P.s AO/65/126/3 and 4.)Resurveyed at 1:2500. (5)
[SS 9076 4272] Luccombe 3. Robin How, cairn 24 paces diameter, 10ft. high. The material may have come from quarry pits to the east, north-east and south-east. Visited by Grinsell Whitsun 1958. Robin How and Joaney How (SS 94 SW 3) were shown as Luckham Barrows on O.S. 1” first edition, 1809, and as Luccombe Barrows on the map by W. C. Cox 1829 and in Savage (b). The earliest appearance of Robin and Joaney How on the maps appears to be on the O.S. 6” 1889. (6) Joaney How (SS 94 SW 3), Robin How and adjacent mound (SS 94 SW 4).Scheduled. (7)
The large cairn known as Robin How lies on Dunkery Hill at SS 90761 42724. It comprises a large, circular mound of stone, enclosed by a heather and turf covered bank. The cairn measures 21.5m in diameter and stands 2m high. The eastern side is flanked by a large pit, 19m N-S, 8m E-W and 0.8m deep, probably the source of material for the cairn. The stone mound is flat topped, and has probably been re-worked recently, as there is no sign of the two conical erections mentioned by authy 3. The evidence for this being the site of a beacon comes from the OS 25” first edition map (Somerset 34.14), there is no other evidence that this was the case. The cairn was surveyed using differential GPS as part of the RCHME East Exmoor Project (8).
Surveyed at 1:500 scale with EDM, 24 February 2000 (9).
Round cairn known as Robin How. Part of round cairn cemetery on Dunkery Hill. Traditionally thought to be named after Robin Hood. Scheduled. (10)
The cairn known as Robin How has been transcribed as earthworks from aerial photographs as part of the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The cairn appears to be circa 25 metres in diameter and centred on circa SS 90764272. It is one of eight cairns recorded as part of the survey in this area, although more are present but not visible on the aerial photographs available. (11-12)

Details of cairns on Pastscape

Five cairns of probable Bronze Age date are visible on the summit of Dunkery Beacon. The cairns were surveyed by English Heritage in August 2004 in response to a request by The National Trust and have been transcribed as closely as possible during the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. The group was previously recorded as both UID 35995 and 35990, but have now been combined into 35990 utilizing Grinsell’s numbering scheme and with a concordance with the Scheduled Monument numbers.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

SS 90874277. Prehistoric round cairn cemetery on Dunkery Hill. The cemetery comprises at least five round cairns, including three distinctive examples each surrounded by a low bank. These cairns, which include Robin How (SE 94 SW 2) and Joaney How (SE 94 SW 3) appear to have formed the focus of the cemetery. The third, unnamed, cairn (SE 94 SW 4) lies further to the south. Two further cairns lie to the east and north east. Three small mounds, east of Joaney How, have been interpreted as cairns but may be later in date than the others. Scheduled. (1)

Details of burial cairns on Pastscape

A group of 11 well preserved Bronze Age burial cairns on Selworthy Beacon.

Minehead Without 1. At SS 91884799 a mound 20 paces across by 3 feet
high, probably a barrow.
Minehead Without 2. At SS 92184803 is a bowl barrow 13 paces across
by 3.5 ft high with a hollow centre.
Minehead Without 3. At SS 92304804 is a bowl barrow 13 paces across
by 2.5 ft high with a hollow centre.
Minehead Without 4. At SS 92334801 is a truncated bowl barrow 15
paces x 2 ft.
Minehead Without 4a. At SS 92484798 is a hollow centred barrow 10
paces x 3 ft.
Minehead Without 4b. At SS 92544796 is a hollow centred barrow 16
paces by 3 ft.
Minehead Without 5. At SS 92494791 is a barrow 13 paces across by 4
ft high with a hollow centre (the heap to the west may be a robbers‘
spoil heap).
Minehead Without 6. At SS 92504792 is a mound but it is uncertain
whether it is a robbers’ spoil heap or a round barrow.
Minehead Without 7. At SS 92554790 is a barrow 16 pace x 1 ft high.
Minehead Without 8. At SS 92604785 [No other information].
Minehead Without 9. At SS 92604783 [No other information]. (1)

Grinsell’s Nos 2,3,4,5,7, and 8 are published on OS 25”.
1 at ‘A’ SS 91884798 is Selworthy Beacon. A modern cairn stands on
what may be the remains of a truncated cairn though it may only be a
beacon platform.
2 at ‘B’ SS 92174804 and 3 at ‘C’ SS 92294803 are undisturbed bowl
barrows.
4a at ‘D’ SS 92404803 is a bowl barrow with a hollow centre.
4b at ‘E’ SS 92414802 and 8 at ‘L’ SS 92604783 are truncated bowl
barrows.
5 at ‘F’ SS 92504790 is probably a pair of confulent bowl barrows. Theeastern one has a large hole in the centre and overlies a smaller bowlto the west at SS 92494790 (considered by Grinsell to be a spoil
heap).
4 at ‘G’ SS 92314801 and 7 at ‘H’ SS 92544789 are both truncated
cairns.
A small low heather covered mound at ‘K’ SS 92414797 is rather
doubtful bowl barrow.
6 at ‘J’ SS 92514790 is a rectangular mound and is almost centainly
material taken from the centre of 5.
‘M’ a further barrow published to the south west of 8 has been
completely destroyed.
See GPs AO/65/177/3-8 and AO/65/180 3-8
Surveyed at 1:2500. (2)

(’B’ SS 921174804; ‘C’ SS 92294803; ‘D’ SS 92414803) Tumuli (NR)
(’F’ SS 92504790) Tumuli (NR)
(’G’ SS 92314801) Cairn (NR)
(’H’ SS 92544789) Cairn (NR)
(’L’ SS 92604783) Tumulus (NR) (3)

‘A’ SS 91884799. Minehead Without 1. Selworthy Beacon listed as
Authy. 1. Probably used as a beacon.
‘B’ SS 92174804. Minehead Without 2. As Authy 1.
‘C’ SS 92294804. Minehead Without 3. As Authy 1.
‘G’ SS 92324801. Minehead Without 4. As Authy 1.
‘D’ SS 92404803. Minehead Without 5. Bowl barrow 10 pace diameter 2
ft high with hollow in centre.
‘E’ SS 92424803. Minehead Without 6. Bowl barrow 16 paces diameter, 3ft high with large hollow in centre.
‘K’ SS 92414797. Minehead Without 7. Bowl barrow.
‘F’ SS 92514791. Minehead Without 8. Bowl barrow 13 paces diameter
and 3 ft high.
‘F’ SS 92504791. Minehead Without 8a. Mound ?10 paces diameter, 2 ft
high, with very large hollow in centre. Uncertain whether a barrow ora spoil heap from No 8.
‘J’ SS 92524791. Minehead Without 8b. Mound 2 ft high. Uncertain
whether a barrow or spoil heap from No 8.
‘H’ SS 92554790. Minehead Without 9. Bowl barrow 16 paces diameter
and 2 ft high.
‘L’ SS 92604783. Minehead Without 10. Bowl barrow 17 paces diameter
and 1 ft high with slight hollow in centre.
‘M’ SS 92604784. Minehead Without 10a. Mound marked on OS 6”, not
now visible.
Nos 1-6 and 8-10 visited by Grinsell 11th September 1959.
Two or three barrows of this group were opened in 1807 by Richard
Fenton (b) with no result excepting charcoal only. (4)

SS 925479. Group of cairns east of Selworthy Beacon. Scheduled. (5)
A mound, possibly a barrow has been located at SS 9261 4787 and is 13 paces in diameter. (6)

This group of Bronze Age burial cairns were recorded as part of the RCHME Exmoor project. The cairns were located using differential GPS and are described under the following records: SS 94 NW 102-112 inclusive. Apart from SS 94 NW 112, which has been destroyed and is now only recorded from documentary sources, the monuments are well preserved, and form an impressive linear group of cairns on the ridge leading up to the summit at Selworthy Beacon. The ridge looks out over the Bristol Channel to S Wales on the north, and over to Dunkery Beacon to the south (7).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

A heavily mutilated Bronze Age cairn can be seen as an earthwork on aerial photographs, 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.

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[ST 10004210] Tumulus [NR] Bleary Pate [NAT] A large circular tumulus called ‘Bloody Pate’ situated in a field on the left, between the lane and the highroad coming up from Williton, and on a farm known as Rydon. It has never been opened. This is a ditchless bowl barrow (Grinsell’s Williton No. 4).
Surveyed at 1/2500. A bowl barrow 13.0 metres in diameter and up to 1.7 metres high. Covered in thick vegetation. The name “Bleary Pate” is in local use. (4)

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‘’Herne’s Barrow’, a mile S.S.W. of Exford Church and immediately S. of the trig. point on Court Hill. The remains consist of an enclosure bank (internal diameter 38ft) from which five stones protrude possiblyrepresenting the retaining wall of a round barrow which has been dug over – but not recently. Visited – 1931 and 1938. This feature at SS 85223697, is a truncated bowl barrow 0.4m high (Exford No. 2). There are four retaining stones just inside the western perimeter of the mound, and their average dimensions are 0.6m by 0.2m by 0.5m high. ( See GPs. AO/65/187/7 & 8).Surveyed at 1:2500. (2-3)
SS 85233700. Exford 2. Bowl barrow 19 paces in diameter 1ft high found by R Rainbird Clarke in 1938. Within the margin of the mound is a retaining circle 35ft diameter of which four stones all forced outwards remain in situ, and one is recumbent. Visited April 1958. Herne’s Barrow, mentioned as Ernesburg in 1219 and Hernesbureghe in 1279 boundary perambulations. Centred at SS 85224 36977 are the mutilated remains of a round barrow. It is situated at 391 m above OD on the summit of Court Hill. It lies some 48 m south of an OS triangulation pillar in an enclosed pasture field.
The barrow is visible as a turf-covered earth and stone mound about 17 m in diameter and 0.5 m high. It has been robbed leaving an amorphous and uneven interior and a ragged edge eroded by ploughing, especially in the south-east. Four earthfast stones, each about 0.7 m high, 0.4 m long and 0.2 m thick, are set about 4 m in from the perimeter in the NNe, NW, W and SW. They all lean outwards and are probably the remains of an internal kerb. Tops of other stones, one of them possibly being the fifth stone as noted by Gray (1), can be seen protruding through the turf, especially on the south-east. From the irregular spread of the internal material it would appear to have been a true barrow and not a ring or enclosure bank as suggested by Gray.
The barrow was not shown on the 1888 Ordnance Survey 1st edition mapping (sheet Somerset 45.16), in what was then enclosed rough grassland, and the name `Court Hill’ does not appear on this or later OS maps. The barrow was surveyed by the OS Archaeology Division in 1965, and first appears on the 1976 map (OS 1:2500 revision, sheet SS 8569). (6)
The barrow earthwork does not show well on many aerial photographs. Nonetheless, the earthwork is visible on aerial photographs of 1952 and has been transcribed during the Exmoor National Mapping Programme survey. In addition on these images an indication of the disturbance described by the above authorities can be seen. A possible second larger mound is also visible approximately 145 metres to the east. Cropmarks immediately to the south of the mound, visible on aerial photographs of 1985, may also indicate the presence of a circular enclosure of later prehistoric in this area. (7-8)

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[SS 81793456] Green Barrow (NR) A tumulus of the simple bowl type some 3-4 ft high and 50-60 ft diameter. A trench has been dug into it from the edge to the centre. No signs of a ditch. Visited 13 9 50. Withypoole 4, a bowl barrow 15 paces diameter and 4 ft high. Formerlyon Hawkridge boundary. (3)
This is a bowl barrow 1.6m high. There is a hollow in its top. (See GP AO/65/192/1 & 2). Resurveyed at 1:2500. (4) Withypool 4. Green Barrow, bowl barrow listed details as Authy 3. Visited by Grinsell 30th Sept 1961. (5) Green Barrow, a prehistoric round barrow, is centred at SS 81793456. It is 13.3m in diameter (summit diameter 6.6m) and 1.4m high. It is compact and well-defined, but has been disturbed by a sub-rectangular pit, measuring 2.2m by 2.7m and 0.5m deep, aligned north-west to south-east dug into the centre of the summit. A hollowing leads into the pit from the south-east and has been exploited by a modern path. The barrow is heather and grass covered but is surrounded by long moor grass which may conceal an encircling ditch. It has good visibility in all directions except to the north, this because it is off the crest of the hill. (6) SS 81793456. Scheduled. (7)The Bronze Age bowl barrow known as Green Barrow is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs from the 1940s onwards. The barrow is centred on circa SS 81793456, on the upper slopes of a south-east facing ridge on Hawkridge Common. It may also be located on a false crest if approached from the south-east. (8-9)

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[ST 02863417] HUISH CHAMPFLOWER BARROW [GT]. Huish Champflower Barrow, an almost circular mound 68ft. in diameter. Excavated by St. George Gray who drove two trenches across it, at right angles, with inconclusive results:-
An encircling depression was proved not to be a ditch, as was first thought. Outside this there is a bank which appears to have been cut away vertically on its outer slope and faced round the outside by a stone wall surmounted by a bank of earth. The ‘wall’ appeared to take an oval form though excavation was abandoned before establishing definitely that the ‘wall’ was continuous. No relics were found, but in parts, piles of loose stones, some 2’ in height, were laid bare. Black masses, chiefly near surface of the summit afforded proof of the presence of charcoal and would appear to indicate beacon fires. (2)
Huish Champflower No 1, a bowl barrow 22 paces diameter and 6 ft high, with a hollow in centre. Traces of ditch noted by St. G. Gray may be of ditch dug when mound was planted with larches and enclosed by stone wall in 1830. This is a very disturbed bowl barrow 1.6 m high. The slight encircling ditch probably resulted from the construction of the tree ring.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

At SS 82304145 a mound is shown (2) (4) and named Lark Barrow (1) (4). The Barrow must have been destroyed and the material used in making the stone banks when the fields were enclosed in the 1850s. (3) (1-4)
There are no certain remains of this barrow, but it is possible that a segment of it survives in the angle subdivided by two field walls at SS 82284147. Here there is a grass covered mound 0.9m high, but its date relative to the field walls cannot be determined by visual inspection.Surveyed at 1:2500. (5)
SS 82284147: Exford 7. Lark Barrow listed. A segment is left in the NE angle of wall junction and the surviving part, about a quarter, is 8 yds across. (5) MacDermot (6) in 1911 wrote that there was no sign of Lark Barrow but
it formerly stood not far from the head of Spraccombe or Orchard Bottom. It was mentioned by Thomas Pearse in 1678 as one of the principal boundaries of Exmoor Forest. (6-7)
The remains of Lark Barrow are centred at SS 8229 4146. They are now overlain by a junction of field boundaries, one of which marks the parish boundary separating Exford from Exmoor.
The remains lie predominantly within Exford parish and now consist of a very slight swelling some 22 m in diameter and 0.4 m high. The mound is overlain by a farm track running adjacent to the parish boundary, south-westwards from Larkbarrow Corner. The mounding described by source 5 within the north-east angle of the field junction, may be partly caused by the field boundaries themselves, but undoubtedly contains barrow fabric. (8)

Quarter Barrow

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 82804748] Quarter Barrow (NR) Oare 3. A gutted bowl barrow, 17 paces in diameter and 2 1/2 ft.high. (2)
Only a rim of this barrow now remains. 1/2500 survey revised. SS 82794748. Oare 3. Gutted bowl barrow listed as Authy 2. SS 82793 47491 The remains of this barrow are in a deplorable condition. It is encroached on around the western side by thick coniferous plantation; stumps of old felled trees lie across it in the north-east and south west; its south east side is abutted by a fence and trackway and its interior is overgrown with reeds. This now makes it extremely difficult to assess and to obtain precise measurements.
It is situated on Twitchen Plain about 405m above OD on a slight saddle on the Culbone hill ridge roughly halfway between Yenworthy Common and Pittcombe Head. It is shown annotated Quarter Barrow in thick coniferous woodland on the 1889 Ordnance Survey map.
The remains now consist of a circular turf and heather-covered stoney bank about 2.2m to 3m, 0.4m high externally and 0.7m high internally, enclosing an area approximately 7.6m diameter. Several large stones are evident protruding through the bank and there is a break, about 1.7m wide in the south. Probing showed the central area was stoney and as far as can be ascertained under its present condition, it apperas to have been robbed very cleanly (through the narrow break in the south) leaving a rather neat appearnace to the inside of bank. There is no evidence of, or further information about a cist, revealed by uprooting of trees during storms and there is no evidence of the spoil.

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(ST 2090 4557) Pixies’ Mound (NAT) Tumulus (NR) Wick Barrow, also known as Pixies’ Mound or Burrow Sidwell, was excavated by H St G Gray in 1907. It was found to be a round mound, some 84 feet in diameter by 5 feet high, built mainly of large stones up to 2 1/2 feet in length. It contained a roughly circular walled enclosure built of dry stone, with maximum diameter of 31 1/2 feet, height 3’ 6” and thickness about 18” at the top. No central burial was found but there had been an earlier excavation at the centre, which showed as a depression. On re-excavation, it showed as a shaft, at the bottom of which was found a Roman mortarium rimsherd and a nearby coin of Constantine I. These finds are considered to be evidence of a Roman excavation into the mound, but could be the result of a later (say 19th cent.) excavation, disturbing the surface material containing the Roman objects. Three secondary crouched inhumations were found; one accompanied by a bell-beaker, a second by a necked-beaker and a third by a necked-beaker and a flint knife-dagger. Ashbee (3) describes these as eccentric cists containing, disarticulated skeletons, but there is no evidence of cists in the report. Nearer to the centre, at a depth of 18”, a mass of mixed and confused human bones was found packed close together in an oval area some 6 x 2 feet, the lias stones about them being much larger than elsewhere. This seems to be the only evidence for a possible cist in the mound. The bones represent some five adults and a child. Some of the long bones were broken and one skull was marked by impressions of woven fabric. The type of skull and unusually marked platycremism of ‘tibia’ bones in this group, led the excavator to suggest that they were
Neolithic and had been brought from elsewhere to be re-interred. A fragment of pottery found nearby and a similar fragment from
near one of the beaker burials, although thought to be Bronze Age, from the description, having finger tip and nail impressions, may well have been neolithic.
Other apparently disturbed human remains were found near the surface of the barrow, and some were found on the NE in 1880 and 1902-3. The latter were probably exposed by the tenant-farmer who began to demolish the barrow early in the 19th century but was stopped. The finds are in Taunton Museum. (2-3)
A ditchless mound now overgrown, surveyed at 1/2500. Finds seen on display at Taunton Museum. (4)
This barrow, diameter 27.0m, height 1.7m, is under an impenetrable cover of thorn. The survey of 22.10.64 has been accepted and transferred to the PFD.
An Early Bronze Age round barrow excavated by Harold St George Gray in April, August and September 1907. The excavation technique was very much of its time, and fairly typical of Gray, rendering interpretation difficult. The barrow had also suffered much disturbance – as well as ploughing and an unrecorded episode of excavation (see below), the tenant farmer in the early 19th century had attempted to level the mound before being “duly stopped”. The barrow appears to have been at least a two phase structure. At the centre, a primary mound was surrounded by a retaining drystone wall up to 3 feet 10 inches high and 31 feet in maximum diameter. The mound was subsequently enlarged to a diameter of circa 84 feet by the addition of large quantities of lias stone, some blocks up to 2.5 feet long. The central area had been disturbed by a previous episode of digging. Gray found a Roman sherd and a Roman coin within its backfill and suggested the excavation had occurred in the Roman period, suggesting that “they left the piece of mortarium and the coin as evidence that they had “rifled this part of the barrow”. It seems more likely that the excavation was of rather more recent date, the Roman finds suggesting that some deposit of that date had been disturbed as well as the earlier occupants. This earlier episode had clearly disturbed the burials within this central mound. Large quantities of fragmentary human remains were found throughout its fill, while 1.5 feet below the surface was a mass of mixed bones representing at least 6 individuals. 3 secondary crouched inhumations, all adult males and each accompanied by a Beaker, were found within the central area at relatively shallow depths, but undisturbed by the earlier excavation. One was also accompanied by a flint dagger and flint knife; another by a group of flints including 4 scrapers. Other finds fromthe mound included potsherds, flints and further fragmentary human bones. Human remains had been found on and around the barrow on at least three occasions prior to the excavation – circa 1880 a Mr Rawlins found part of a skeleton beneath a large slab of lias; in 1902-3 a Mr House found further human bones, and according to Gray he “authenticated his previous ‘find’ by digging out, with our permission, other bones close to the surface, in the same position, during the time of the excavations”; and Gray also adds that “human bones were found in draining the field”. (2)

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[SS 77024196] Tumulus (NR) SS 770419 Rexy Barrow, round barrow, Little Buscombe. Scheduled. This is a large undisturbed bowl barrow (Grinsell’s Exmoor No. 5) See GP AO/65/128/6 1/2500 survey revised. (3)
Rexy Barrow (NR) (4) SS 77024195. Exmoor 5. Bowl barrow 20 paces diameter 3.5 ft high. Visited by Grinsell and Charles Whybrow 22 May 1961. It is marked as Rexy Barrow on the 1 in. OS Exmoor Tourist Map 1967, which may possibly be another form of Exaborough on a 17th century name.
Rexy Barrow is centred at SS 7702 4196. It lies on the spine of Great Buscombe ridge at 441m above OD, and has extensive visibility to the east, and also southwards towards Ashcombe. To the north-east it has an open aspect towards Lanacombe, whilst to the north views are obscured. Westwards the peat covered plateau known as “The Chains” is visible.
The barrow is well preserved, with a diameter of 18m and a summit diameter of 11.5m). It has steep, well defined sides 1.2m in height and a flat top. There is no evidence for any excavation or robbing, although the surface of the barrow is uneven, possibly due to the passage of animal and other traffic over and around it – there are certainly marked tracks leading to the barrow from the north-east and south-south-west.
It is covered in a mixture of moor grass and reeds, and a pronounced swathe of reeds around the mound may indicate the presence of a silted ditch, although there is now no earthwork evidence for it. (8-9)
The barrow described above is clearly visible on aerial photographs as a substantial mound surrounded by a crop mark ditch. It lies within an extensive area of 19th century drainage ditches constructed by the Knight family as part of their land improvement attempts, and it is not clear whether this activity has affected the monument (10).

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[ST 1274 3941] THORNCOMBE BARROW [G.T.] Thorncombe Barrow, Bicknoller, round barrow, scheduled (2), one of the best specimens in the neighbourhood. A ditched bowl barrow, 1.7m high: the ditch is no more than, 0.2m deep. A shallow depression has been dug into its top. (See G.Ps AO/65/122/7 & 8) Published 1/2500 survey revised. The possible Bronze Age bowl barrow, described above, is situated on top of Thorncombe hill at 332m above OD. It has been recorded on aerial photographs and is visible as an amorphous mound with a diameter of 21m.
(5-7) Thorncombe Barrow is a large Bronze Age barrow on a spur to the northwest of the summit of Thorncombe Hill at ST 12732 39416. The barrow comprises a large circular mound, 17m in diameter and 1.3m high. The mound has a flat top which has a deep hollow in its centre, 6m x 4m x 0.9m deep. A ditch, 3.5m wide and 0.8m deep runs around the mound. A small causeway across the ditch on the southeast side of the barrow is probably a later feature. The barrow lies in an area of early post-medieval relict field system. The barrow was recorded using differential GPS as part of the EH survey of the Quantock Hills AONB (8).

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(SS 74753620 & SS 74863622) Two Barrows (NR) (SS74713631) Tumuli (NR) (One of two, the other in Devon, SS 73 NW 12) (1)
Exmoor No 16, SS 74713621, a bowl barrow 22 paces diameter and 2 ft. high.
Exmoor No 17, SS 74753620, a bowl barrow with OS trig pillar on top.
Exmoor No 18, SS 74863622, a bowl barrow 18 paces diameter and 1 ft. high, small hollow in centre. (2)
Grinsell’s 16 and 18 are both truncated bowl barrows. 17 is a bowl barrow with a hollow in the centre. An excavation trench runs across it from SW to NE. Published survey 1/2500 revised. (3)
Exmoor 16, 17 and 18. Bowl barrows listed, details as Authy 2,among Two Barrows group. Exmoor 16 visited by Grinsell 23 May 1961, Exmoor 17 and 18 Visited April 1949. Named Twoburroughs in 1632. (4)
SS 74783622. A group of three barrows is situated about 482m above OD on the summit of the ridge between Hangley Cleave on the north and Fyldon Common on the south. The road from Kinsford Gate to Sandyway Cross crosses the southern part of the ridge and the Devon/Somerset County Boundary runs along the northern side of this minor road. The fairly level summit of the ridge is covered with rough grass and reeds; there are excellent views; southwards across to Dartmoor, westwards to Barnstaple Bay, north to the Chains ridge and eastwards to Dunkery Beacon.
SS 7470236210. Barrow A, nearest the road, is visible as a rather amorphous turf-covered earth and stone flat-topped mound about 21m NW/SE by 13m and 0.9m in maximum height. The SW side has been truncated by the boundary wall, its ditch and the road, so the barrow is not complete. There are at least three quarry holes in the interior of the barrow which suggest robbing, possibly for the wall. There in no evidence of a surrounding ditch to the barrow. The barrow was used as a marker for the County Boundary and the Exmoor Forest (5).
SS 74743 36208. Barrow B, the most apparent of the group, is evident as a mutilated earthen mound varying in diameter from about 18m NW/SE to 19.8m NE/SW and 2.1m in maximum height. The barrow has a central ‘excavation’ hollow , 2m in diameter and 0.4m deep. Spoil from this hollow has been dumped around the summit creating an irregular false top which obscures the original flat top which must have been about 1.7m high. As well as the central hollow an excavation trench, 2m wide and 0.8m deep, has been cut into the barrow from the WSW. A similar though less well defined linear hollow, 1.5m wide, 0.4m deep, through the east side suggests a continuation for this excavation across the barrow. An apparent backfilled trench, 1m wide and 0.2m deep, in the NNE may be no more than a path over the barrow. The trenches do not appear to have sectioned the ditch, which is visible as a band of reeds about 2.5m wide around most of the perimeter. The barrow has been used as a viewpoint and there is some erosion caused by walkers up its south side.
On the 1889 (6) and 1904 (7) Ordnance Survey maps a Triangulation Point is shown on the SE summit of the barrow although there is now no evidence of one as stated by authority 2.
SS 7485636225. Barrow C, the most easterly, is visible as a low earthen grass and reed-covered flat-topped mound varying in diameter from 15.5m NE/SW up to 16.5m E/W and 0.5m in maximum height. The southern half of the barrow is mainly covered by dense reeds. A small hollow, about 2m in diameter and 0.4m deep, near centre in the NW suggests it has been dug and the spoil spread around giving a rather uneven surface. There is no trace of an accompanying ditch, however probing revealed softer peat around the periphery suggesting that there was one which has now become completely silted.
Barrows A and C are clearly disc type barrows whilst B is distinctly of the flat-topped bowl type. The barrows are a Scheduled Monument: Somerset County No: 170. (7)
*Note: On the 1889 (5) and 1904 (6) editions of the Ordnance Survey maps the name Two Barrrows appears between barrows B and C. This has, unfortunately, given the name to the whole group which is a misnomer as it actually contains four barrows; A,B & C, as above, on the Somerset side of the boundary and a fourth barrow at SS 7463 3621 treated separately as SS 73 NW 12) on the Devon side. (5-9)
The barrows described above are clearly visible on aerial photographs as earthwork mounds either side of the Devon/Somerset county boundary. A fourth barrow (see NMR UID 35046) which lies in Devon has been recorded separately as a result of this, but is more than likely to be part of the same group (10).
NB. The Somerset HER has numbered the barrows individually. The HER numbers are as follows; barrow A; 33020, barrow B; 33018 and barrow C; 33019.

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[SS 73454190] Chains Barrow (NR) Chains Barrow (Exmoor No. 2), is 25 paces in diameter and 6 ft high: there is an OS trig pillar on top. Scheduled (3). (2,3)A large bowl barrow apparently undisturbed except by the OS trig pillar. See GP AO/65/129/3 Published survey (1/2500) revised.
Exmoor 2. Chains Barrow listed, details as Authy 2. Visited by Grinsell 8th Sept 1959. This or Exmoor 3(SS 74SW 5) may have been called Exaborough in the 17th century (7). It is known as Cheyne Barrow in 1653. (6,7)
SS 7345741904. Chains Barrow is prominently situated in an area of grassland on the summit of The Chains ridge about 485m above OD. There are panoramic views; NW to the Chapman, Longstone and Wood Barrows, E to Alderman’s Barrow and Dunkery Beacon, and triangulation pillar is set into the summit slightly SW of its centre and the base is eroded to a depth of about 0.2m into the barrow.
The barrow is evident as a turf-covered, flat-topped earth and stone mound of 1.7m maximum height and varying in overall diameter from 23.6m N/S to 24.8m E/W. Its sides are badly eroded in places probably by sheep. There is a distinct change of profile at the edge of the flat top which is some 15.5m in diameter. Although there is no documentary evidence for excavation the uneven surface of the summit area suggests spoil may have been backfilled and consolidated to support the trig pillar. There are traces of a surrounding ditch, about 2m wide and 0.2m maximum depth, evidenced by a shallow rush-filled hollow around the periphery.
The barrow is a Scheduled monument (a) and is surrounded by peat cuttings which have come close to the ditch on the SW side. It has been enclosed by a fence to protect it from sheep and cattle however this is too close to the rim of the barrow, actually encroaching on the outer lip of the ditch, and it is causing an erroneous edge to the feature, especially around the S arc.

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Black Barrow, centred at SS 8321 4421, is a substantial, circular, earth and stone mound, now mutilated by a field wall. The barrow has panoramic views, especially in a westerly direction. It is 22 m in diameter and 1.5 m high.
The barrow has been considerably damaged by a west-east field wall which approaches it from the west, and turns northwards at its centre. The wall has been created from the barrow fabric itself, whilst its flanking ditch has cut into the barrow. The result is that the southern arc of the barrow survives intact, and is probably the best preserved part. The north-western quadrant lies within the angle of the field wall and has been considerably reduced. The eastern arc tapers northwards to only 0.4 m high, and has probably been robbed. No trace of a flanking ditch around the barrow or kerbing is visible.

Details of the barrows on Pastscape

((SS 85494106 & SS 85374093) Bendels Barrows (NR). Exford 3. At SS 85354093 is a mutilated bowl barrow 25 paces across by 2ft. high. Exford 4. At SS 85484106 is a bowl barrow 12 paces across by 2ft. high. Scheduled.
Two round barrows, both of turf construction, are situated on a broad hilltop at about 460 metres O.D., but due to their very low profile, neither can be seen from a distance.
SS 8538 4092. Exford 3. Not published on O.S. maps after 1965, this barrow has a diameter of 22 metres and is 0.4 metres high. A perimeter cropmark suggests that it might originally have been 26 metres across. The sides and top have been dug into by peat cutters whose former activities are much in evidence all over the hilltop, and a cutting for 12 metres around the northern side has produced a ditch, 5 metres wide and 0.2 metres deep.
SS 8549 4107. Exford 4. A cropmark suggests the possibility of an original diameter of 20 metres but there is now only a platform measuring 13 metres across east to west, and 15 metres north to south. It is 0.2 metres high, with a mound 6 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres high set off-centre and towards the southern part of the platform. It is uncertain whether there has been turf digging around this barrow or not but the structure itself certainly seems unmolested. Neither barrow is to be classified as a disc barrow (the platform and mound is a fairly common south-western type), and the S.M.R. field observations and descriptions (S.M.R. source 5) have been transposed.
Both are known locally as Bendels Barrows. (11)

The remains of a two round barrows on Exford Common, known as Bendels Barrows, are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards. Using the terms employed by the above authorities, the Exford 3 barrow is centred on circa SS 85374092 and on aerial photographs of 1947 appears to be circa 22 metres in diameter. It is less visible on later aerial photographs. The Exford 4 barrow is centred on circa SS 85494107 and is visible as an earthwork 13 metres in diameter on aerial photographs of 1947, although as suggested above, disturbed vegetation within 5 metres of the mound may indicate a cropmark suggestive of a berm, potentially extending the monuments original diameter to 22 metres. Damage to the mounds by peat cutting is not apparent on the aerial photographs, but extensive turbaries are evident in the immediate area. (13, 14)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[SS 83674233] Alderman’s Barrow (NR) Alderman’s Barrow, round barrow. Scheduled. Grinsell’s Exford No 1, a bowl barrow 29 paces in diameter and 4.5 ft high. This is a disturbed bowl barrow. It is 1.4m high and has had a hole 0.7m deep dug into its top. (See GPs AO/65/138/7 & 8 Stereo pair). Resurveyed at 1:2500.
The name Alderman’s Barrow is a corruption of Owlaman’s Barrow, and before that it was known as Osmund’s Barrow. (4-5)Exford 1. Alderman’s Barrow listed, details as Authy 3. It was named Osmundesburgh and variants in boundary perambulations 1219 – 1301, known as Owlaman’s Burrow from 1651 to 1815 and as Alderman’s Burrow or Barrow from 1782 onwards. (6)
Alderman’s Barrow lies at the north-west end of Almsworthy Common, on the boundary of the parishes of Luccombe, Porlock, Exford and Exmoor. It comprises a turf-covered, circular, flat-topped, earth and stone mound, 24 m in diameter, north-south, by 22 m; it is 1.4 m high. The barrow is largely intact and in good condition, and is now covered in dense heather and bracken.
Several activities have taken place to disturb the original form of the barrow:
1. The creation of a road on its north side has clipped the edge of the barrow.
2. A sharp-sided, irregular pit, some 8 m across and 0.7 m deep has been dug into its centre.
3. There is an area of disturbance in the area of the south-west quadrant, in the form of a narrow trench which follows the base of the barrow scarp.
Both 2 and 3 are probably the result of undocumented antiquarian activity, but may also be the product of robbing. Certainly 3 appears to be an attempt to ascertain whether the barrow has an encircling kerb.
Some 4 m from the barrow on its north-west side is an Antiquity Star put up during WW2 to alert gunnery crews on the nearby ranges to the fact that an archaeological monument existed.
Alderman’s Barrow was surveyed during July 1996 as part of RCHME’s West Exmoor Project.(7-8)

Aldermans Barrow is a substantial earthwork clearly visible on many of the aerial photographs assessed as part of the Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme (NMP) survey.
The truncation of the northern edge of the earthwork and the central depression are apparent from the air, but the more subtle damage described above is obscured by the pervasive vegetation cover. (9-10)

Details of the round barrow on Pastscape

(SP 5036 7477) The Island (Tumulus) (OE) (1)
The monks of Pipewell Abbey who had a grange here (SP 57 SW 4) “surrounded the ancient tumulus in the close with a moat, throwing the earth inwards and enlarging the space. This moat was filled from the land springs on the upper strata of the gravel..” and used as a stew for fish. (2) Wait describes ‘the island’ as having a small ditch, but says that in 1797 this ditch was “a moat from 4’ to 6’ wide, and full of water. A wooden drawbridge with a spiked gate in the centre, crossed this at the place where the cricket pavillion now stands.” (3) Rugby ‘the island’ mound – scheduled as an Ancient Monument under Miscellaneous Sites. (4)The original nature of ‘The Island’ is uncertain. It could have been a BA barrow, a small motte, or even a mound constructed specifically for meditation by the monks of the Grange (as was their practice at Pipewell, See SP 88 NW 8). The name ‘The Island’ is still in current use, and it is now grass covered and planted with trees. A notice states that the moat was filled in in 1847. (5)

Details of the henge on Pastscape

An evaluation undertaken by Warwickshire Museum Service at High Cross, Copston Magna in 1990 reportedly identified cropmarks. Field walking produced sparse flint scatters, while trial trenching located a henge and a possible hengiform monument.

Details of temple on Pastscape

SP 195905. A Roman settlement extending for at least 400m. from N to S was discovered during industrial and housing development at Coleshill in March 1978. Excavations in 1978 and 1979 revealed a Romano-Celtic temple complex in the centre of a subrectangular stone-walled enclosure measuring 65m. N-S by 45m. E-W. The enclosure contained two other probable shrines, a building some 8m square in the southern corner and a structure with an apse 7.5m. in diameter between the temple and the eastern enclosure wall. The temple in its latest phase consisted of a stone built cella measuring 11m. E-W by 10m. N-S with an ambulatory 2m wide. The building replaced an earlier cella with a western apse, and this had replaced an earlier timber temple, whose cella was almost square and was surrounded by the post-holes of an ambulatory measuring 11m by 10m.
West of the timber temple and pre-dating it, was a circular building 12m. in diameter, possibly of Iron Age date. The final stone temple and the stone buildings in the enclosure probably date to the 2nd century. The associated pottery is mostly of 2nd century date or earlier, but the coin series continues to the 370’s. Some 40m S of the enclosure the remains of a bathhouse were discovered, and other features noted so far include pits, ovens, ditches, floors and walls. Other finds include late Iron Age and 1st century Roman pottery, a bronze bull’s-head bucket mount and two brooches. Excavations continuing. (1-4)

Details of hillfort on Pastscape

The earthworks and buried remains of Oldbury Camp, a univallate hillfort. The hillfort utilises a prominent ridge which rises to the west of the village of Hartshill and occupies an area of some 2.8ha. Traces of the hillfort’s defensive earthworks, a bank and external ditch, are visible along the north east, north west and south west sides. The best preserved section of the bank forms the north western defences to the site. It is visible as an earthwork, with a maximum width of 6.5 metres at its base, although its central section has been breached. Much of the external ditch has been infilled but will survive as a buried feature. A causeway across the ditch at the north west corner is believed to mark the site of an original entrance to the hillfort. Oldbury Camp originally extended to the south east, but this area has been extensively modified by the construction of buildings associated with both the now demolished Georgian house, Oldbury Hall, whch occupied part of the site until it was levelled in 1948, and a reservoir which was operational by 1954 and occupies the central part of the hillfort’s interior. Scheduled.

Details of the round barrow on Pastscape

[SP 3176 9433] Tumulus [LB] [As this is the only known barrow in the vicinity of Oldbury the following probably applies.]. (1) In 1835 Mr. Bloxham opened a barrow at Oldbury. It was common bowl shaped, 15feet high and 70feet in diameter. At a distance of 2 feet from the surface on the east side, some bones, a spearhead of iron, and an iron shield boss or umbo, much corroded were found. Within the barrow a cairn covered, at a depth of 6-7 feet a cist of rough stones. Inside were two sepulchural urns mouth down, both containing burnt fragments and two smaller vessels or drinking cups. Nearby lay the blade of a small brazen dagger or knife with a rivet or pin at one extremity, and at the same depth two small flint chippings. Below at a depth of 8 feet a third sepulchural urn mouth down over burnt bones, and a drinking cup, both in a rude cist (1). All the finds are in Warwick Museum (2). (2-3) The barrow is 2.1m high, heavily overgrown, and without trace of ditch. A deep excavation hollow in the centre reveals the cairn-like core of loose granite. Published survey, (25” 1959,) revised. Present location of finds is Warwick Museum. (4) Scheduled as ‘Round Barrow on Hartshill Hayes’. (5) Additional bibliography (6)

Details of the round barrow on Pastscape

Area: ST 833 786 – A small round barrow east of Lugbury long barrow was ploughed away circa 1630. Mon.Brit. John Aubrey p.58
“Neer to this stone was a little round Barrow, before it was ploughed away since Ao Dm 1630.”
There are no traces of a barrow in the area indicated. (2)

Details of the barrow on Pastscape

Bowl barrow listed by Grinsell as Idmiston 32. Field investigations in 1972 found it to be surviving as a mutilated earthwork, approximately 16 metres in diameter and up to 1.4 metres high. It is covered in thick vegetation. It is probably part of the Bronze Age barrow cemetery described in SU 13 NE 23.
(SU 18623533) Horse Barrow (NR). (1) Compare name with Horse Barrow Field c 1840 in the Tithe Award. (2) Winterbourne 4; a bowl barrow 20 paces x 8 ft. (3) A mutilated barrow, under thick vegetation, approximately 16.0 metres in diameter and up to 1.4 metres high.Published survey (25”) revised. (4) Listed, Idmiston 32. (5) It is probably part of the Bronze Age barrow cemetery described in SU 13 NE 23. (6)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 17032580) Long Barrow (NR). A long barrow, 135 feet long, orientated WNW-ESE, was found by O G S Crawford in 1920. Its west end appears to have been set into the hillside giving the appearance of a ditch on the north side. The highest end is at the east. It is perfect except for a narrow trench which has been dug across it near its east end but (to judge by surface appearance) no chamber existed. Although planted with firs it is in danger of being ploughed away. (2)
A long barrow, 150 feet long, 50 feet wide and 10 feet high in a spinney surrounded by arable field. (3)
“Hollow at E, at right angles to longitudinal axis and extending halfway across the mound possibly marks the position of a lateral chamber.” (4)
SP 17032580. A tree-covered long barrow situated on a north-facing slope, broader and higher at its E end. The barrow is 47.0 m E-W and 20.0 m N-S with a transverse excavation trench at its mid-point. The covering mound appears to have been dug out of the hillside to the south. Possible traces of a ditch on the S highest side. Publised 1:2500 survey revised. (5)
The earthwork remains of the elongated mound of an probable Neolithic long barrow described by the previous authorities were seen centred at SP 1702 2579 and mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1973. The site appeared as a low, slightly elongated mound c. 13m x 30m. This site was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Gloucestershire NMP project. (6)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 16732637) Long Barrow (NR) A Severn-Cotswold type long barrow, 173 feet long, 52 feet wide and 8 1/2 feet high orientated NE-SW, excavated by Greenwell and Rolleston in 1874. Excavation of the rounded east end revealed the wall enclosing the barrow, 5 feet high in the east and the ‘horns’ but no megalithic portal. Large upright flagstones, with large stones arranged against them sloping in a roof-shaped fashion on either side, formed the centre of the mound, probably for the whole length. Transverse dry stone walls in one instance formed a passage. A chamber, 24 feet from the west end on the north side of the barrow contained the remains of nine bodies, animal bones and two small pieces of plain pottery. The passage, which may have opened out to the exterior of the barrow, escaped rifling and an almost perfect skeleton of a man and those of a woman and child were found. Over the north horn burials of a later date were found and also a Neolithic ‘B’ bowl now in the British Museum.
Three Saxon burials, two saucer brooches, one of which is in the Royce collection at Stow-on-the-Wold, the other with an iron knife in the Ashmolean Museum and an amber bead were found near the surface about 18 feet from the re-entering angle of the ‘horned’ east end. A spindle-whorl was found 4 feet below the ground near the Saxon burials. (2-6)
A tree-covered long barrow 58m long, 20m wide (at its widest point) and up to 3.0m high. The barrow, higher and wider at its E end, shows no trace of either the revetment or the portal horns seen by Greenwell and Rolleston in 1874. The central area of the barrow is much disturbed with an exposed cist at its NW extent. No trace of side ditches, the barrow stands on high ground in arable farmland and is ploughed to its margin on all sides. Revised 1:2500. (7) Beaker pottery has been found in a secondary context at Poles Wood South long Barrow. (8)
The earthwork remains of the Neolithic long barrow described by the previous authorities were seen as an elongated mound centred at SP 1676 2636 on aerial photographs taken in 1963. The site was mapped from these photographs as part of the English Heritage: Gloucestershire NMP project. (10)

Details of site on Pastscape

(SP 157288) Eubury Camp (NR) Eubury Camp, discredited as a hillfort, is derived from an apparent enclosure made by four different elements. “a” (from SP 1576 2893 to SP 1587 2885) is a bank with limestone core, 570ft long by 40ft across and 10ft high, with no apparent ditch. “b” (SP 1549 2898 to SP 1589 2880) is a sharp scarp about 3ft high. Large limestone blocks
revetting its western end, now destroyed, were visible in 1937. “c” (SP 1556 2868 to SP 1587 2875) is a terrace about 900ft long, hollowed as if a ditch with a counterscarp bank. Midway along its length the terrace is 22ft wide below a scarp 10ft high capped by a slight bank 12ft across by 1ft high. Revetment stones were visible here up to c1939. “a”, “b” and “c” are artificial, but of uncertain origin. At “d” (SP 1555 2874) slight scarps and banks, suggesting an entrance, are continuous with natural slopes and may be supposed to be also largely natural. The the west of these are rings and circles also of geological origin. Romano-British pottery was discovered west of “d” in 1937. (2)
Though in plan these features appear to form a coherent structure on the ground they are not clearly associated, differing in type of construction and falling as they do on differing levels, part on the top of the spur, part on the sides and part in the bottom of the valley. Not an antiquity. See also SP 12 NE 59. (3)
The earthwork and cropmark remains of the alleged hillfort described by the previous authorities were seen on aerial photographs forming an elongated plygonal enclosure, narrowing towards its eastern end (c.330m x 226m). This part appears to have incorporated parts of the natural sharp slope and outcrops of limestone. The western part appeared to be marked an irregular broad ditch, the eastern part of a large sub-circular enclosure centred at SP 1542 2884. This was seen as a cropmark on photographs taken in July 1996 and gave the appearance of being an earlier enclosure onto which the eastern enclosure (defined by surviving fragmented earthwork banks) appears to have been added. The curvilinear cropmark defined enclosure was hard to define due to the presence of geological ‘background noise’ visible as swirling cropmarks. These features were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage Gloucestershire NMP project. (4)

Details of henge on Pastscape

A sub-circular henge monument defined by two concentric ditches with a bank between them. The monument survives partly as earthworks and partly as cropmarks. The internal diameter of the bank is circa 112 metres, thus enclosing around 0.9 hectares. The presence and location of entrances is uncertain, with parts of the bank, ditches and interior obscured by buildings and a minor road. Watching briefs were undertaken in 1938 (roadside water main) and 1952-3 (building operations) confirmed the presence of internal and external ditches but failed to recover any dating evidence. Two small areas within the henge were excavated in 1977 in advance of building work, and a section dug across the inner ditch. The interior cotnained recent and natural features, although some flint flakes were found in the upper fills of some of the latter. The inner ditch was near vertical-sided, flat-bottomed, and measured 4.2 metres wide and 2.4 metres deep below modern ground level. The ditch fill included pottery (possibly Beaker), animal bones, charcoal and burnt stones, much of it apparently representing a deliberate act of deposition from the henge interior. Two radiocarbon dates were obtained from charcoal and burnt wood, both falling in the 18th century bc (uncalibrated), suggesting the possibility of a later Neolithic origin. Roman pottery came from the upper fill (and a single Iron Age sherd hade been reported on an earlier occasion). A watching brief in 1991 observed only modern finds, while another in 1992 along the course of the Condicote to Lasborough Sewer noted pit-like features immediately northwest of the henge in a geophysical survey. In addition, short irregular linear features adjacent to the bank on the west side were suggested to represent the remnants of a discontinuous outer ditch mirroring the more complete outer ditch visible on the east side.

Details of site on Pastscape

(SP 064299) Beckbury Camp (NR) The univallate promontory hill-fort of Beckbury Camp (2) is sub-rectangular in shape with rounded corners. It measures 600 ft by 495 ft and is protected on the west by the escarpment. The remaining sides are defended by a rampart still 15 ft high on the SW. Many coins of Severus and Aurelius, some flint arrow-heads (3) and a sherd of Western Third B pottery have been found here (2). (2-5)
The north and west sides of the camp are defined by the steep slope of the escarpment; on the south and east the bank is about 25 ft wide and rises 5 ft above the interior. The entrance was probably in the SW where there is a 40 ft gap between the end of the bank and the edge of the escarpment. A low scarp continuing the line of the bank across the gap is probably a natural feature. Fire-reddened stones are visible in the outer face of the bank (at SP 06462983), and also in a field well on the bank east of the entrance. The outer ditch has been levelled except for a short length at the north end. (Visited 3 5 67). (6)
Beckbury Camp is as described by authorities (2) and (6); it is in a generally good state of preservation, and the interior is under pasture. No surface finds were made. At SP 06402979 the bank weakens, forming a now blocked field entrance. Drystone revetting is visible in the outer face of the rampart at SP 06462994; here the bank attains its maximum height. Many fire-reddened stones are visible in the NW corner boundary wall.
RCHMs suggestion of a probable SW entrance gap can be discounted. At this point the escarpment has been cut back to turn into the rampart, which is now represented for 10.0m by a weak scarp. Evidence of a filled outer ditch is exposed where the ground falls steeply away; the line of the ditch remains visible in the natural rock and continues about 6.0m down the escarpment. A more favourable entrance occurs at the NW where a natural depression has been utilised as a hollow-way. Springs occur in the lower vicinity. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (7) Information as in Authy. 6 now published. (8)
The univallate Iron Age hillfort known as Beckbury Camp (1-8) is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. The site is centred at SP 064 299 and comprises a single bank which measures between 7m and 9m wide and defines the southern and eastern sides of a sub-rectangular enclosure with curved corners and concave and convex sides. The bank partially encloses an area that measures 169m long by 131m wide and is orientated north / south. The southern side bank is narrower and a field wall has been built along its top. The bank of the eastern side has been damaged by animals repeatedly passing through a break in the bank at SP 0647 2987. (9)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

SP 03061416 Long Barrow (NR) A long barrow measuring 140 ft by 60 ft high, aligned ENE/WSW. Witts noted the existence of chambers disturbed by earlier excavations, and Mrs O’Neil found a badly disturbed chamber, possibly a lateral
chamber, 45 ft from the west end on the central axis. SP 03041416 A long barrow, situated upon a gentle SE facing slope in woodland. The barrow, orientated ENE/WSW, is 58.0m in length and 12.0m in width. The height increases from 0.4m at the western end to 1.7m at the eastern end. The mound is densely covered with brambles and small trees, but is seen to be composed of broken limestone. There are no signs of side ditches. The chamber located by Mrs O’Neil rremains exposed 14.0m from the W end and in a very mutilated condition. It is 3.0m x 1.5m x 0.8m deep and contains limestone fragments. Several flat slabs average 1.0m x 0.8m x 0.2m thick lie in and around the chamber; it cannot be determined by inspection whether the slabs originally formed the chamber sides or were capstones. There is a circular depression 3.0m in diameter and 0.5m deep on the barrow spine, 17.0m from the ENE end. An early ? excavation. Published 1:2500 survey revised on AM. (5)
A probable Neolithic long barrow in Withington Woods survives as an oblong earthwork oriented ENE to WSW. It is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as an extant earthwork prior to the area becoming densely wooded. It has since been surveyed on the ground, as well as being mapped from aerial photographs as part of The Cotswold Hills NMP project. The barrow as visible on aerial photographs of 1946 is centred at SP 0305 1417, approximately 676m to the south-west of Colnbrook. It appears to measure approximately 48m WSW to ENE and 11m NNW to SSE, although its visibility on aerial photographs is partly masked by low scrub. On all later aerial photographs the trees of Withington Wood obscure the aerial view of the barrow (7).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 04881576) (1). The long barrow in Sales Lot field measured 120ft by 33ft by 3ft high before excavation; aligned NW/SE. It was discovered in 1962 during agricultural work, and was excavated by Mrs O’Neil from 1963-5, when it was found to
have an entrance between horns at the east end, opening into an elliptical forecourt. An antechamber and passage led to a burial chamber enclosed within two concentric ring walls (c.f. Notgrove. SP 02 SE 19). This was empty, apart from a sherd of Western Neolithic pottery, but remains elsewhere in the barrow indicated that at least eighteen persons had been interred
there. Of two shallow graves at the NW end of the barrow and contemporary with it, one contained a crouched skeleton and the other some human teeth an a flint arrowhead. In the forecourt were found the post-holes, hearth and other remains of a thatched dwelling of Neolithic date; probably late in the period and associated with Peterborough ware from the floor. It had apparently been deliberately plundered and burned down, still within the Neolithic period. The quantity of flint flakes found in and around the barrow suggested a chipping floor and occupation site in the vicinity. Finds of later periods included a beaker burial from the centre of the core of the mound, and sherds of RB pottery and two fragments of tegulae stamped VLA from beneath the turf covering of the barrow. (1-2)
A long barrow, situated at SP 04871578 within an arable field upon a gentle SE-facing slope. Reduced by stone robbing and by excavation to little more than a thin spread of loose limestone fragments of varying sizes, it is orientated NW-SE and measures 36.0m in length and in width increases, NW to SE, from 8.0 to 14.0m with an average height of 0.4m. At 15.0m from the SE end, excavation has exposed twin parallel drystone walls following a semicircular course across the width of the barrow. They stand 1.0m apart and reach in height from 0.3m to 0.8m at the centre. A further 5.0m of drystone revetting is exposed along the NE side towards the SE end (see 1:1000 sketch plan) Divorced survey on permatrace at 1:2500. (3) Interesting constructional features of this excavated/robbed long barrow still remain exposed; particularly the concentric ring-walls of drystone construction, and the perimeter wall revetting and kerbing. There are a large number of naturally-holed stones remaining in the core material. The barrow form can still be recognised. What now remains of this feature should be subject to a DOE scheduling order. (4)
A Neolithic long barrow is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs taken in 1946. The site is centred on SP 0486 1578 and measures 36 metres long by between 13 and 17 metres wide. The long barrow is oriented NW-SE, and appears to have been disturbed on the aerial photographs taken in 1962, with several small pits cut into the surface. The statement by authority 1-2 above suggesting that the barrow was discovered during agricultural work may suggest that the monument was significantly plough damaged between 1946 and 1962 (6).