Chance

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).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

Long Barrow at SP 027118. The remains of a turf-covered, long barrow situated upon the top of a ridge with a gently south-facing slope, at SP 02671180.the barrow, constructed of limestone, is orientated almost due north-south and measures 41.0m in length and from 10.0 m in width at the southern end to 16.0m at the northern end. In height it increases, south to north, from 0.6m to 1.2m. The mound has been cut away at the centre for a distance of 9.0m, thus isolating the ends, and the
whole site has been reduced and spread by the plough. There are no visible remains of side ditches. Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. (2)
A Neolithic long barrow which has been previously recorded and surveyed is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 and 2006 in the north-western corner of the field adjacent to The Grove. All that remains of the long barrow are two small mounds, representing either end of the original north to south aligned mound. This feature was mapped from aerial photographs as part of The Cotswold Hills NMP project.
The area covered by the long barrow remains is centred at SP 0267 1179, and measures approximately 42m north to south and a maximum of 18m east to west. The oblong remains of the northern end of the barrow measure approximately 22m north to south and 18m east to west. There is a gap of approximately 10m before the remains of the southern end of the barrow, which is a circular mound measuring approximately 10m in diameter (3-4).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

81989761(1) A long barrow, aligned NE/SW, 170 ft long, 75ft wide and 3 ft high, at its NE (higher) end. (1) Listed but unrecorded. (2-3) ST 81989761 Ploughed-down long barrow 1.0m high. Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
The long barrow referred to above (1-4) is visible as a soilmark and an earthwork on aerial photographs viewed as part of The Cotswold Hills NMP survey. The barrow has been much ploughed-down and is therefore only visible as a slight earthwork. The barrow is about 47m in length and about 15m wide; no parallel ditches were visible. (3;5)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

SP 06711227 Wood Barrow (NAT) Long Barrow (NR) Long barrow known as “Wood Barrow”, 210ft long by 2 1/2ft high, aligned N/S. A large standing stone on it was moved before 1779 to expose many human bones lying near the top of the barrow. (2-4)
“The almost completely destroyed Wood Barrow has an oval mound at its northern extremity, still of sufficient size to repay investigation”. (5)
‘Wood Barrow’ (name unconfirmed) has been almost completely ploughed out. It is situated upon the top of a ridge with a gentle slope to the east and is orientated NNE-SSW. It measures 65.0m in length and in width from 20.0m at the southern end to 30.0m at the northern end. Its height does not exceed 0.7m. There are no visible remains of side ditches and the mound is littered with pieces of broken limestone.Resurveyed at 1:2500 on AM. The Neolithic long barrow referred to by sources 1-6 is not clearly visible on the available aerial photographs, although a very faint lighter coloured area, which is probably caused by the plough spreading the stone mound material, is visible in 1946.

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SO 99231857) Long Barrow (NR) (Remains of) A long barrow, the original length of which was probably 140-150 feet (2). It is orientated E-W, and now measures 100ft long by 48ft wide by 6ft high. The west part has been reduced by ploughing to a low ‘tail’, and there is a large hollow in the centre of the east part (3). (2-4)
SO 99221856 The existing feature is a mound 16m E-W, 12m N-S and 1.8m high. A slight swelling presumably indicative of the original extent is just perceptible. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (5)
A rapid examination of air photography (6a) shows the mound of the barrow although the ‘tail’ is not apparent. (6)
The long barrow referred to above is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the Cotswolds Hills NMP survey. The barrow is as described above (2-5) with a slight ‘tail’ just visible to the west. The barrow measures about 28.7m long and about 12m in width. (7)

Details of site on Pastscape

(SP 127155) Norbury Camp (NR). Norbury Camp, univallate hillfort, unexcavated, encloses 80 acres on a promontory between re-entrant valleys. The west and east sides of the fort are defined by banks set along the extremities of a slight eminence; the north and south sides are defined by the edges of the promontory, accentuated in part at least by scarping.
On the north a low bank set on a terrace beneath the scarp edge, and extending for about 220 ft along the inner side of a track, may be the northern mound mentioned by Witts. The ploughed west bank, 50 ft wide, rises 1 1/2 ft above the interior and contains limestone blocks up to 3 ft long. The ditch shows only as a crop-mark. The eastbank, about 16 ft wide and 2ft high, ends 200 ft south of the steeply scarped NE corner. No ditch is visible. Original entrances, used by modern roads, may be represented by a gap near the centre of the east bank and a hollow-way in the south scarp. (Visited 19 9 69). (2-4)
Generally as described by RCHM. The scarping along the south side extends for about 270.0m from the SW corner. The terrace below the scarp on the north side may originally have been a natural feature modified by land-scarping, probably when trees were planted on the regular, scarped slopes above and below it. The west bank is under plough, but remains 1.3m high externally and 0.3m high internally. The eastern bank averages 1.0m high and 8.0m wide, and is crowned by the remains of a field wall. The internal slope has been mutilated or destroyed by ploughing. The bank south of the road has been almost destroyed by modern development. The eastern bank is incorrectly positioned on the 2” Drawing of 1815. There is a considerable slope east of the sharply scarped NE corner, and there could never have been a continuation as shown on the 2” Drawing. Published survey (25”) revised on Antiquity Model. (5)
Excavations within the hillfort took place in advance of farm building. In addition to Iron Age features, a Roman pit, ditch and gully were excavated; these probably relate to previously known occupation immediately to the north (SP 11 NW 15). The pit contained an incomplete inhumation suggesting mutilation. (6) Information as in Authy.2 now published. (7)
SP 1278 1545. Excavations in the north-west corner of Hospital field in 1977, (see Authy. 6) demonstrated late Iron Age occupation within the hillfort enclosure in the form of 3 probable 4-post structures. An undated semi-crouched inhumation burial is possibly associated with this occupation. No specific dating evidence was recovered for the Iron Age occupation, nor was a positive association demonstrated between the wxcavated structures and the hillfort enclosure. The Iron Age pottery is undiagnostic and could related to any phase of the local pre-Belgic Iron Age. [Published excavation report]. (8)
SP 127 155. Norbury, Northleach. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 3.2ha. (9)
A rapid examination of air photography (10a) suggests that the ploughed down west end of the hillfort may have been multivallate. (10) A multivallate Iron Age hillfort enclosing 80 acres is situated on the western side of the village of Farmington. Excavation and geophysical survey has revealed Iron Age and Romano British occupation (UID 329947). The hillfort also contains a probable Neolithic long barrow (UID 329938). These features were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South Cotswolds NMP project; and are protected as Scheduled Ancient Monument 209 (county number).
The roughly rectangular Iron Age hillfort is centred at SP 1273 1554, and covers an area approximately 890m east to west and 520m north to south. Certain features described by the previous authorities are visible as earthworks or cropmarks on aerial photographs. The innermost bank of the western rampart is visible as a slight earthwork on the latest available aerial photographs of 2006; its’ outer ditch and a further three outer banks and two ditches visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs of 1969.
Short lengths of the northern and southern ramparts are visible as extant scarp edges, along with the clearly defined north-eastern corner of the hillfort. The remainder of the enclosing banks, ditches and scarps are hidden from aerial view by trees, field boundaries and modern housing.
The Neolithic long barrow in the south-western corner of the hillfort, and the Romano British settlement in the north-eastern corner have also been mapped from aerial photographs and are recorded as UIDs 329938 and 329947 respectively (11-14).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 13312879) Long Barrow (NR) “Oak Piece” long barrow is positioned by O’Neil and Grinsell at SP 13402890 (2), and M Westerling states that it lies 304 yards from the south wall of the field and 107 yards from the east wall (3).
The barrow is oriented E/W and measures 145 ft by 60 ft by 4 ft high, with nearly parallel sides (2). Mr Peachey, formerly estate agent at Trafalgar, dug 5 ft into the mound several times c 1916, but discovered only that it was built of small stones among which were flint flakes. There were no signs of earlier disturbance (3). A leaf-shaped flint was found nearby Mys Westerling (4). (2-4) SP 13312879. Long barrow, very spread by ploughing; now measuring 60.0m E-W by 23.0m laterally and up to 1.3m high. No trace of ditches visible on ground, or OS APs (a). Surveyed at 1:2500 on PFD. (5)
A rapid examination of air photography (6a) shows the long barrow as a cropmark, with dark ditches (?) tapering to the west and a possible horned east end. SP 13352880. A Neolithic long barrow, sometimes known as the Oak Piece long barrow. A survey carried out in 1960 found the barrow mound to have maximum dimensions of 44 metres by 18 metres. It is now visible as a ridge approximately 0.6 metres high, and measuring 25 metres by 15 metres. Scheduled. SP 1335 2880. The long barrow has been mapped from aerial photographs, including those cited as authorities 5a and 6a, by EH’s Gloucestershire NMP. (8)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 17362895) Long Barrow (AT) A ploughed-down long barrow seen by Crawford (1) and described as being about 160 feet in length, orientated NW-SE, and higher and broader at the SE and where there was a depression left by some excavation. L V Grinsell (2) saw it on the 17 May 1959 and gives its dimensions as 180 feet in length, 100 feet in width, and orientated SSE (where it was 6 feet high) to NNW. These dimensions indicate why Witts (3) came to class it as a round barrow. (2-3)
SP 17352895 A ploughed-down long barrow 66.0m long, 25.0m wide and 1.4m high, orientated NW-SE. It is mutilated and spread at its southern (highest) end where the side of the road impinges upon it. Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)
The ploughed out remains of the probable Neolithic Long Barrow described by the previous authorities were seen as a faint cropmark of the spread mound (too indistinct to be mapped) on historical aerial photographs. The mound may still survive as a slight earthwork, but this could not be seen on the available photographs. (5)

Details of hill fort on Pastscape

SO 990150) Norbury (NR) Camp (NR) Norbury hill-fort, univallate, unexcavated and mostly ploughed out, probably enclosed about 8 acres. The south end is defined by a bank 18 ft wide and 3 ft high with an outer ditch 20 ft wide and 3 ft deep. A scarp 2 1/2ft high marks the east side; at the NE angle the ditch appears as a band of dark soil with a slight outer scarp. The entrance in the SW is between over-lapping bank ends. (Visited 29.4.69) As described except that the ditch at the NE angle is indiscernible as the field is under young corn at present. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (3)
SO 990 150. Norbury, Colesborne [sic]. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 3.2ha. (5)
Norbury Hill-fort (SO 990150), univallate, unexcavated and mostly ploughed out, lies on a hill-top 1 mile N of the village [Colesbourne]; it probably enclosed about 8 acres. [Further details and plan included]. A rapid examination of air photography (7a) suggests that the hillfort entrance was at the northern end of the northeast side. (7)
The hillfort referred to above is visible on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the Cotswolds Hills NMP survey. The hillfort is as described in source (2). The hillfort is defined by a bank on the north east, east, south and south west sides measuring about 7m in width. On the south side is a ditch about 5m wide. Overlapping ends of the banks appear to form an entrance at SO 9898 1485, though the slight out turned end of the bank visible to the northeast at SO 9895 1511, may also form an entrance. A section of bank to the northwest was not visible due to dense vegetation. (9-10)

Details of long barrows on Pastscape

SP 07191882 and SP 07261889 Long Barrows (NR) The southern barrow measures 165 ft by 80 ft by 3 ft high, and is oriented SE/NW. Two orthostats visible in Witts’ time near the SE. The northern barrow measures 180 ft by 75 ft, is oriented ENE/WSW and its present height is 6 ft at the west end and 3 ft at the east end, which was the higher in Witts’ time. (2-5)
Ploughing has almost completely destroyed the southernmost of these two long barrows and has reduced the other in both width and length. (6) Two barrows, the long barrow at SP 07191883 has been reduced by ploughing to a roughtly oval mound 50.0m long by 26.0m wide and up to 1.2m high. There is a concentration of fragmented stone towards the SE end which may mark the chamber noted by Witts. (3) No trace of the orthostats remain.
The barrow at SP 07261889 although damaged by ploughing on the east, is in much better condition and the west portion appears undisturbed. The overall dimension are 58.0m long by 24.0m wide, and up to 1.7m high at the west end and 0.8m high at the east. Present appearance suggest that the barrow faced SW, however Witts’ observation that the NE end was the higher in his time introduces some doubt on this. Neither barrow exhibits any visible trace of side ditches. Resurveyed at 1:2500 on AM. (7)
SP 073189: Hazelton North long cairn was excavated in 1979 by A Saville. The cairn was trapezodial in shape and survives to a length of 51 metres with a maximum width of 18 metres. It was found to be a blind entrace type of the Cotswold-severn tomb with a pair of opposed lateral chambers. The blind entrance is non-orthostatic and is marked by a shallow concavity in the terminal dry stone walling. The cairn is orientated approximately west-east with its broad end situated to the west. Fieldwalking in the surrounding area produced lithic debris, including leaf arrowheads and a polished stone axe fragment. A Roman coins was found on the barrow’s surface. (8-9)
SP 073 189. Total excavation of Hazleton north barrow took place between 1979 and 1982. The original length of the barrow was shown to have been between 54-55m, whilst its maximum width had been 19m in the west and 9m in the east. Its structure was composed of dump-deposits of soil, marl and rubble divided into 19 cellular units by internal revetment walling. These units lay to either side of a central axial revetment aligned E-W. This cellular core was then revetted by an outer dry-stone wall, doubled at the western end to form the ‘horns’ of the courtyard, (which was bare of features other than a central hearth). The 2 burial chambers were located near the centre of the cairn, c25m E of the horns. They were similar in plan, comprising a ‘sock-shaped’ arrangement of an elongated entrance passage with an eastward, right-angled, turn into a roughly rectangular chamber. The chamber walls were built of contiguous orthostats with supplementary dry stone work where gaps existed. The cairn was flanked to the N and S by quarries from which much of the material for its construction had been obtained. The quarry to the north was 2.2m deep X 28m wide, whilst that to the south was 2.2m deep and over 20m wide. Their primary fills contained red deer antlers, (not converted into picks), fragments of Abingdon Style pottery and in the S quarry, a hearth. From within the cairn 23 skulls were recovered, (although the remains of a total of up to 30 individuals may have been represented). Ages and sexes were equally distributed between both chambers. A small number of items found within the chambers included a flint axe fragment, 2 bone beads and fragments of a undecorated cup or bowl. The final inhumation on the N side was accompanied by a large flint core under the right elbow and a quartzite pebble hammerstone adjacent to the left hand. An analysis of radio carbon dates for the skeletal evidence suggests a period of use for the barrow spanning only 300 years (c3800 – 3500 BC) [see source 12].
The buried soil beneath the cairn contained a midden-like deposit to the W of the burial chambers. This included fragments of a carinated vessel, carbonised seeds and nutshells, post/stakeholes and an associated hearth lay to the West of the midden suggesting early Neolithic domestic activity. A concentrated scatter of 55 mesolithic microliths was discovered in the same area. Exploratory trenching of Hazleton South Cairn revealed that this was also a side chambered cairn by that it had suffered badly through cultivation. [see source 10]. (10-12)
Two Neolithic long barrows are visible on aerial photographs as earthworks in a field between Pen Hill and the village of Hazleton. The northernmost barrow was totally excavated in 1979-82. These features were mapped from aerial photographs as part of The Cotswold Hills NMP project.
The northernmost barrow, which was completely excavated in 1979-1982 was centred at SP 0728 1891. Prior to excavation it was visible as an extant earthwork of trapezoid shape on aerial photographs and measured approximately 63m WSW to ENE and 22m NNW to SSE.
The southernmost barrow is centred at SP 0720 1884, and measures approximately 51m north-west to south-east and 21m south-west to north-east. This barrow is oval shaped in plan, and remains an extant earthwork (14-15).

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SP 07240691) Tumulus (NR) A round barrow 25 paces dia by 5ft high, with a large hole in the centre. Mrs 0’Neil in 1938 noted a possible cist in the centre, and five upright stones of a retaining kerb around the east edge. (2)
SP 07240693 As described although there is now no evidence of a possible cist or kerb, nor trace of a ditch. Divorced survey at 1:2500 on permatrace. (3) The barrow is as described above (1-3). The barrow is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1942, which show the depression at the centre of the barrow, measuring about 5m wide by 6m long, orientated north-south. A possible outer ditch is faintly visible as a cropmark around the barrow measuring 32m in diameter but this is not visible on later aerial photographs. This may suggest a Bell barrow rather than a Bowl barrow (5-6)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 16590972) Lad Barrow (NR) A long barrow measuring 96ft by 64ft by 3ft high, aligned E/W. At least two earth-bound stones protrude from the east end, possibly orthostats of a terminal chamber or blind entrance. (2-3)
Lad Barrow is now much reduced and spread by ploughing, measuring 38.0m E-W by 33.0m transversely by 0.9m high. There are no traces of the earth-bound stones nor of a ditch. Resurveyed at 1:2500 on PFD. (4)
A Neolithic long barrow is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs. The site is centred on SP 1658 0973, and comprises an oval cropmark which measures 28 metres long and 10 metres wide. The barrow’s long axis is oriented east-west. An indication of what may be an earthbound stone is visible at the eastern end of the long barrow, but it is too indistinct to map (7).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 12361549) Long Barrow (NR). A long barrow 190 ft by 70 ft by 4 ft high, oriented ESE/WNW. A large stone, possibly part of a burial-chamber, which was visible on the mound in Witts’ time, had disappeared by 1920. (2-4) The long barrow within Norbury camp is now a low, featureless mound. (5) Ploughed down long barrow, orientated NW to SE, the SE being the higher and wider end, and measuring 73.0m long 28.0m wide at the SE end and 16.0m wide at the NW. Maximum height 0.6m.
The field in which it falls was under a winter cereal crop at the time of investigation. It was generally stony, but over the barrow there is a higher proportion of stone to earth than elsewhere. No side ditches and no traces of burial chambers were visible. Mrs O’Neil recalls large stones being removed from the barrow in the 1930s Resurveyed at 1:2500 on antiquity model.
A probable Neolithic long barrow is visible on aerial photographs as a slight earthwork within the south-western corner of Norbury Camp Iron Age hillfort (UID 329935). This feature was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South Cotswolds NMP project, and forms part of Scheduled Ancient Monument 209 (county number).
Centred at SP 1235 1550, the oblong-shaped barrow as visible on 1946 aerial photographs appears to measure approximately 67m north-west to south-east, and 18m south-west to north-east. It is hardly visible at all on later aerial photographs (7).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

SP 10141177 Crickley Barrow (NAT) Long Barrow (NR) (1) The long barrow known as Crickley Barrow has been so thoroughly dug over, probably early in the 19th century, that it is hardly recognisable. It is oriented NNW/SSE (as shown on the OS 1” map of 1830), and must have been originally between 250 and 280 ft long. The Salt Way crosses the southern end, as is shown by a lump in the road, and a sign-post stands on the northern end. (2-3) Crickley barrow has been finally eradicated. (4)
The long barrow has been completely levelled and no trace remains. 1:2500 survey revised on Antiquity Model. Crickley Long Barrow was destroyed in 1960 (a). (5)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

SP 04521058 Long Barrow (NR) The Pinkwell long barrow, situated in Long Barrow Field, measures 180 ft by 90 ft by 3 ft high, aligned SE/NW. it was excavated without result in 1856 by J Y Akerman, who learned however that three human skeletons had been found 20 years previously at the SE end, indicative of the existence of a terminal chamber. (2-4 )
SP 04521057 A long barrow, situated on level ground and now reduced by ploughing and excavation to a low, broad mound, 55.0m long, 25.0m wide, SE of the centre, and in height increasing from 0.5m at the SE end to 0.8m at the NW end. There are no visible remains of side ditches. Resurveyed at 1:2500 on AM. (5)
A Neolithic long barrow which has been previously recorded and surveyed is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 and 2006 as an extant mound immediately to the west of Longbarrow Farm. This feature was mapped from aerial photographs as part of The Cotswold Hills NMP project.
The roughly oval barrow is centred at SP 0453 1059, in the modern field just to the west of Longbarrow Farm, to the south-east of Newmans Covert. As it appears on aerial photographs, it measures approximately 66m north-west to south-east and 32m south-west to north-east (at its widest point, which is towards the south-eastern end of the barrow). No traces of side ditches are visible on any of the available aerial photographs (6-7).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

SP 14271253 Long Barrow (NR). A Long barrow measuring 150 ft by 75 ft by 8 1/2 high, aligned SE/NW. Two uprights and a capstone of either the entrance to a chamber or a false entrance protrude from the SE end. The barrow, which has never been excavated, was described by Crawford as the finest he had every seen.
A long barrow oriented SE-NW and measuring 48.0m long by 26.0m wide. It is 1.9m high at its highest point in the SE. There are no traces of side ditches.
The entrance, or false entrance, consists of two upright stone slabs 1.5m apart measuring 0.7m long, 0.4m high and 0.3m thick. The displaced capstone leans on them and is 2.1m long, 0.9m wide and 0.3m thick. The barrow, set in permanent parkland, is well preserved. Re-surveyed at 1:2500 on antiquity model. See GP AO/WM1/76/7/8 from NE.
SP 14271254 The long barrow was surveyed at scales of 1:2500 and 1:500 as part of a wider survey of Lodge Park by English Heritage in 2005. It is a well-preserved example of the Cotswold-Severn type, dating to the first part of the 4th millenium BC and it conforms to the average length and orientation of others in this group. It is typically situated on the uppper limestone plateau, on a false crest. The mound measures 2.6m high at its largest end and decreases to 1.9m high at its tail end. It has two distinct steps in its profile and combined with the ‘waisted’ nature of its plan these may suggest a multi-phased construction as has been found at nearby sites such as Notgrove and Sales Lot. The three stones forming the stone setting at the south-eastern end of the mound may have been exposed due to a collapse. They may represent an entrance or a blind entrance, although the possibility that they may have been re-arranged during the later landscaping of the park cannot be ruled out. A geophysical survey of the mound, in 1995, showed it to be composed of dense rubble with an axial wall along its centre and ‘weakly visible’ transverse walls were believed to show cellular construction, although no chambers could be located with certainty. No flanking ditches are visible, but the geophysical survey noted side ditches present on both sides (8) (9) (10).
The probable Neolithic long barrow identified by the previous authorities is visible as an extant earthwork on aerial photographs of 2006. Centred at SP 1427 1255, this feature appears from the air to be approximately 43m long, by 13-20m wide. This feature was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South Cotswolds NMP project (11-12).

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

SP 10890924 (1). The Ablington Beehive Chamber is an underground circular chamber situated in the south slope of a long low irregular mound, which, though covered with undergrowth, appears to be aligned roughly E/W with a length of over 150 ft. The chamber is constructed with dry-stone-walling, with stone seats and three cupboards or niches, above which the wall is corbelled to an entrance at the top, 6 1/2 ft above the floor. It was excavated c 1865 by Samuel Lysons, and again in 1925 by A D Passmore and E C Daubeney, when no dating evidence was found apart from a module of flint foreign to the district. Locally it was supposed to be a shepherd’s cot, but Passmore believed it to be a prehistoric burial chamber in a mutilated mound, possibly a barrow, and O’Neil and Grinsell list the structure as Neolithic. W F Grimes points out its similarity to the barrow near Saltway Barn (SP 10 NW 2) and other neighbouring barrows, suggesting a culturally distinct sub-group of the long barrow folk. There is a tradition of another bee-hive chamber being found in Hole Ground, a few hundred yards to the NE.
A possible long barrow orientated WNW-ESE measures 40.0m by 14.0m by 0.5m high. The corbelled chamber is exposed towards the west corner of the south side. ‘Hole Ground’ is not known locally. Surveyed at 1:2500 on PFD.

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 1075 0941) Long Barrow (NR) The long barrow known as Lamborough Banks measures 300 ft by 75 ft high, aligned SSE/NNW. Excavated in 1854 by S Lysons who found a single orthostat of a blind entrance at the south end between two V-shaped horns built of dry-stone-walling, which extended to form inner and outer revetments enclosing the whole barrow. At the north end was a cist or lateral chamber containing a single primary inhumation (Witts’ No 1). (2-3)
The ‘Lamborough Banks’ Long Barrow survives as a tree covered mound 90.0m in length, 2.0m in height and 38.0m in width at its widest (SSE) end. Its W side is flanked by a modern stone wall beyond which it is ploughed out. The barrow was very badly mutilated by Lysons excavations, the holes of which were left open, and it is now in a poor condition. Nothing of the horned entrance, nor of the revetment walls, chambers or ditches can now be recognised.

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

Mound to the NE of Oldwalls Shed, 140 feet long by 81 feet wide by 6 feet high; either a long barrow or two round barrows. Grimes describes it as an unopened long barrow, possibly Witts’ No 10 (See SP 11 SW 5), but it is scheduled as a round barrow. Mrs O’Neil (1) is undecided. (1-3)
Visible on air photographs as a double mound aligned ESE/WNW at SP 12011041. This feature is under the plough and its present appearance is that of a long barrow orientated ESE-WNW with axes of 58.0 m and 32.0 m. From the E end it slopes gradually and smoothly down to its W end. The sides, are smooth and nowhere are there indication that it was ever two mounds. It has a maximum height of 1.6 m. Surveyed at 1:2500 on Antiquity Model. (4)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SP 06800836) Long Barrow (NR) A fine long mound measuring 300ft by 70ft by 11ft high, aligned E/W. The ends have been disturbed and there are traces of orthostats at the east end. Grimes gives this barrow as an example of the tendency to group round barrows to the east of long barrows, suggesting that the sanctity attached to the broad end outlasted its formal decline in the later monuments (of the Burn Ground long barrow, SP 11 NW 18). (2-5)
A grass and shrub covered, ditchless, long barrow. The present mound is 76.0m long by 20.0m wide by 2.7m high, with a further 8.0m plough spread at the eastern end. No trace was seen of the orthostats. It is in fairly good condition.
Resurveyed at 1:2500 on PFD. Colnpen long barrow is mentioned in a review of Neolithic Gloucestershire as the largest recorded long barrow in the county. The Bronze Age long barrow referred to above (1-7) is visible on aerial photographs and has been mapped by the Cotswolds Hill NMP. The barrow is as described in sources (2-6) on aerial photographs taken in 1947. On the latest aerial photography (GoogleEarth 2008), the barrow is covered in shrub and small trees. This barrow is part of a larger barrow cemetery with adjacent three round barrows to north (SP00NE 1/HOB UID 327148) and two more round barrows (SP00NE 3/HOB UID 327154 and SP00NE 4/HOB UID 327157) located further south. (9-10)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(SP 0296 0266) Tar Barrow (Tumulus) (O.E. Marked “A”)
(SP 0311 0252) Tar Barrow (Tumulus) (O.E. Marked “B”)
“East of the town (of Cirencester) about a quarter of a mile, is Starbury Mount, a Barrow, where Roman coins have been dug up.”
“On the further, or eastern side, (of Cirencester) on the rising ground above the town and between the Foss-road and the White-way are situated the two Tar-Barrows....standing.....about two hundred yards apart. In A.D. 1200 their name is given as Thoreberewe. William of Worcester refers (C.1460) to one of these as Castrum Torre (Itin 279)...“(Ref to Baddeley’s map: The name “Thorebarewe” is applied to Tar-Barrow “A” at SP 0296 0266.) (3)
Tar Barrow (’A’): Probably a round mound like the one to the south-east (’B’) but its shape has been altered by digging at the side. Remains of digging between the two barrows has been ploughed smooth.
Tar Barrow(’B): This barrow is a high round mound of earth and stones, apparently undisturbed except that a clump of elms and beeches, one ash, and a sycamore have been planted upon it. There is no sign of a ditch. Probably Roman.
At ‘C’ (SP 0295 0260) is a large raised knoll, with the appearance of a third barrow for this group, covered by cultivation.
Tar Barrow (’B’) : Dug out by a former owner, who found some sort of cist. Unpublished. (5)
Cirencester, Tar-Barrows – Scheduled Ancient Monument (Listed under Round Barrows). (6)
(A) Cirencester 2; 24 paces N-S, 30 paces E-W, 7ft high. Tree planted bowl barrow; Scheduled. (B) Cirencester 3; 32 paces diam; 12 ft high. Conical profile; the mound was opened from thetop to a depth of 8-10 ft in 1935 with no result except the exposure of a large slab. Site visited immediately afterwards by H. O’Neill. Bowl barrow: Scheduled.
(C) Cirencester 3a. SP 0295 0255. Large and irregular; it might be a partly levelled barrow but may be natural Considered doubtful. (7)
A. A tree covered mound 1.7m high, & elongated N-S (Grinsell’s points are transposed). It seems completely encircled by quarrying and its summit is barely higher than the general level of the ground to the S.E. and W. and cannot be seen until the quarried area is approached. A doubtful barrow for this reason and because it is only recorded by the O.S. (authority unknown) and subsequently accepted by Baddeley who almost certainly gives it the name “Thoreberewe” erroneously. In Rudder’s ‘History’ only one barrow is mentioned – “a large and lofty tumulus near the town called Tor-barrow.....” Rudder was a Cirencester man and would certainly have known of and mentioned a second barrow. Mound surveyed at 1/2500.
B. Tree covered, 2.2m high on W. and 3.2m high on the E. side. Steep sided with no trace of a ditch, & visible from the distance. Almost certainly 1200 A.D. “Thoreberewe”, the 15th c. “Castrum Torre” and Defoes “Starbury Mount”. Rudder says “Torbarrow” was opened c. 1800 and nothing found in it but a small coin and a large square slab, which may be that re-found in 1935. At the foot of the mound is a slab 1.5m x 0.7m and 0.2m thick. If it was part of a chamber it has been altered since. The underside is well tooled and the upper face has been roughly incised as if for cutting out a curved lintel. Surveyed at 1/2500.
C. This appears to be a natural rise at SP 0295 0259. (8)
An assessment of aerial photographs in the vicinity of Tar Barrow and Hare Bushes suggests that the view of authority 8 is correct and that supposed barrow “A” is probably the result of upcast from quarrying and that barrow “C” is a natural feature or possibly the junction of medieval plough headlands. Tar barrow (barrow “B” at SP 0311 0252) appears to have been used as a marker for the laying out of part of the medieval open field system which once extended across the fields on the north and east of Cirencester. Medieval boundary banks extend east and west from the barrow. These boundaries and the associated ridge and furrow have now been ploughed level. (9)

Details of site on Pastscape

A possible Roman temple or mausoleum and enclosures are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs, and through geophysical survey, around the scheduled site of Tar Barrow (SP 00 SW 15, UID 327361, Gloucestershire SAM 268), overlooking Cirencester, Gloucestershire. An English Heritage air photo assessment, and geophysical survey by GeoArch on behalf of Dr Peter Guest at Cardiff University, provide evidence of a significant site, probably associated with the Roman settlement of Corinium. Research by Neil Holbrook and Richard Reece suggests that the area around Tar Barrow possibly functioned as a religious focus in the Roman period, and possibly later Iron Age, and may have influenced the routes of the Roman road system in the vicinity, and possibly even the location of the Roman town. A series of ditched enclosures and possible building foundations, all aligned NE-SW, extend across an area measuring at least 285m by 185m. The most substantial of the enclosures, to the south-west of Tar Barrow, is thought to be a temple or mausoleum. This ditched enclosure measures approximately 37m by 28.5m, and encloses an area of 31m by 21m. Within the enclosure is a rectangular structure measuring circa 10.8m by 6m defined by what appear to be stone foundations surrounding a pit or cut feature measuring 8m by 5m. To the north and east of the barrow there are a number of enclosures and possible trackways defined by ditches interspersed with a series of square and sub-square structures, possibly building foundations. Until relatively recently the area was covered in medieval and post medieval earthworks (SP 00 SW 157, UID 1479180) in pasture which extended across the slopes above Cirencester.

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(SU 05550499) Bull Barrow (NR) (1) (32) BULL BARROW (05550499), bowl, near the N. edge of Holt Heath overlooks the valley of Mannington Brook at 90 ft. above O.D. It is 48 ft. in diam. and 4 1/2 ft. high; the top of the mound has been disturbed by digging. Either from this barrow or from one of the same name in Woolland (Dorset III, 317) came a sharpened deer bone (Barrow Diggers, 77, pl. 5, No 16). (2) Ditched bowl barrow; the ditch is visible on the north and south quadrants only. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3) Two hollow scrapers, eight flakes showing secondary signs of working, seventy-seven flakes and 16 cores or cone fragments have been reserved from mound erosion debris. (4)

Details of Hillfort on Pastscape

SU 39503639. Crop-marks of `hill-fort’ according to Dr. St. Joesph. (1) Nothing visible on the ground (arable field). (2)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

SU 39513637: A bowl barrow, 40 paces in diameter and 5 feet high. Grundy (2) identified this hill as the site of Heardulfes Hlaewe – Heardulf’s Barrow and this large barrow has since been found by O G S Crawford (1). (1,2)
Identification of barrow with name (3). Now under plough, a large bowl-shaped mound, 39.0m in average diameter and 1.7m in height can be seen on the summit of this hill. There appears to be a vague depression surrounding the mound. The mound lacks the chalky appearance typical of ploughed barrows in this area but this may be because of the comparatively short time it has been ploughed. (4) Tumulus located and surveyed on Field Document at SU 3951 3637. (5)

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

(SU 42603878) Tumulus (OE). Long Barrow: Orn. ESE (113oM) Oats. E end highest rather flat 5.7.1927. (2)
Oval mound, prob long barrow, 125’ long, 93’ wide and 4 1/2’ high. Larger end at E. Under plough: no ditches seen. (3)
A ploughed down pear-shaped “short” long barrow, 36m. long and 24m. across, the larger (eastern) end, of which is 1.1m. high. Freshly ploughed; the line of the ditch forms a dark band, c.10m. wide, which appears to be interupted only at the east end.
Reduced by ploughing and now 50.0m in length, 26.0m. in width, maximum height 1.0m. The western end is nearly ploughed out and is barely visible.
SU 42603878. Moody’s Down West long barrow has been so spread by ploughing that its shape and the positions of the ditches are no longer apparent on the ground. The mound is now 33.0m. long and 1.0m. high. Scheduled.

Details of long barrows on Pastscape

(`A’ – SU 43473862 and `B’ – SU 43363867) Tumuli (OE) (1)
`A’ Long barrow No 49(3). A pear-shaped mound, 160’ long, 84’ wide at the E end and 5’ high, with flank ditches 24’ wide and 1’ deep.(1)
This long barrow has been destroyed in making a rifle range.(4) In removing it a skeleton was found, rather to the east of the middle and on the main axis. The cranium (seen at the clerk of works office) was of long-headed Neolithic type. The barrow was composed of chalk rubble except in the region of the skeleton, where there was black clayey soil. All the material was removed carefully, but nothing unusual was noticed, At the time of my visit, 4.4.1940, two long narrow trenches had been (cut) into the underlying natural chalk to a depth of c.18”. In one of them the lip of the ditch was exposed and showed that the ditch was c26’ wide.(5)
`B’ Long barrow, No 50 (3) with a rectangular mound 220’ long 75’ wide and 4’ high (its height almost the same throughout its length) and parallel flank ditches, 27’ wide and 1’ deep.
A rim fragment, now in the Winchester Museum, which I obtained from its SE end, has been examined by Mr C F C Hawkes, who states that it “could reasonably be taken as Neolithic `A’.... but it might easily be late Bronze Age”.(2) (2-7)
`A’ Mound completely removed. Course of northern ditch, visible as band of rank grass.
`B’ Description in T2 correct. Freshly ploughed. (8)
SU 43473862. Moody’s Down South-East long barrow. The ditches remain visible as hollows under grass on flat ground.
SU 44363867. Moody’s Down North-West long barrow. Reduced by ploughing; it now measures 70.0m long, 1.2m high and 7.5m wide.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(’A’ – SU 50794442: ‘B’SU 50734442) Three Barrows (Tumuli) (OE). (1)
The “Three Barrows” group comprises a bell-barrow (A), a twin-barrow (B), and two disc-barrows (C & D).
SU 5069442 & SU 5063442 (3). All but the western disc-barrow were excavated by O.G.S. Crawford in 1920.
The bell barrow had a MBA primary cremation and the disc-barrow, C, a small vessel of All Cannings Cross or Worthy Down type, suggesting an EIA date. Grinsell suggests C & D may be low platform barrows, some of which are EIA.
Finds from the bell barrow included fragments of beakers, seven scrapers, an oval blade and an axe. (2-4)
A. A bowl shaped mound 30.0 m.in average diameter and 1.6 m. in height. No trace of ditch.
B. Confluent twin barrows now appearing as an undivided oval mound 45.0 m. E-W and 34o m. N-S and 2.2m in height. No trace of ditch. Nothing remains of barrows C and D but both are visible as ring-ditches on A.P.’s.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

(Group centred SU 41833891) Tumuli (OE (3 shown)). Barrow (SU 41813899) (’D’).
(’A’) Bowl barrow. Partly quarried away; skull of horse visible, Sept 1937.
(’B’) Bowl barrow. Buried beneath bushes.
(’C’) Bowl barrow. 20 paces in diam and 1’ high. Air photo 5299.
(’D’) Bowl barrow. 27 paces in diam and 3’ high. Another barrow near this group appears on Greenwood’s map of 1826. For a MBA urn from this area see (a). (3)
‘A’ The tree planted remains of a bowl barrow 22m in diam and 1.7m high. The whole of its NE quadrant has been quarried away by a chalk pit or silage pit.
‘B’ Bowl barrow, 21m in diam and 1.4m high. Patches of greener grass probably indicate the course of its ditch. Tree planted and bramble covered but otherwise apparently intact.
‘C’ Almost ploughed out bowl barrow, 23.5m in diam and 0.2m high, surrounded by a dark bank, 4m wide, indicating the course of the ditch. Freshly ploughed.
‘D’ Bowl barrow, 23.5m in diam and 0.8m high. The ditch is visible as a dark band, 3m wide, in the freshly ploughed field. The NE sector disappears into rough pasture and a fir plantation. (4)
‘A’ and ‘B’ are as described. ‘C’ is completely ploughed out although its ditch still shows as a crop mark. ‘D’ is much spread and now has a max diameter of 29.0m.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

SU 3996 3697: Tumulus OE (`A’)
`A’: Bowl barrow; 4’ high.
`B’: SU 3987 3689. Bowl barrow, 18 paces in diameter and 1 1/2 ft high.
`C’: SU 4000 3700. Bowl barrow, 22 paces in diameter and 1 foot high.
B and C show clearly with the latter overlying the Ranch boundary SU 43 NW 6.
`A’: Bowl barrow, 25.0m in diameter and 1.6m in height. Faint trace of a surrounding ditch.
`B’. SU 3982 3688: A ploughed bowl barrow measuring some 22.0m in diameter and 0.3m in height. Surveyed at 1:2500.
`C’. Ploughed out – no remains.
`D’. SU 3994 3097: A new bowl barrow discovered during investigation contiguous to `A’. 18.0m in diameter and 1.3m in height with faint trace of a ditch. Surveyed at 1:2500.
‘A’ and ‘D’ listed as a pair of conjoined barrows.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[’A’ – SU 49694481 and ‘B’ – SU 49764474]. TUMULI [OE]. (1)
‘A’ – a bowl barrow. 35 paces in diameter and 8 feet high, north of FREEFOLK WOOD.
‘B’ – a bell barrow, situated 60 yards south of the northern edge of the wood. Covered with trees, it is not possible to measure accurately by tape, but pacing makes the mound 33 paces in diameter, the berm 8 paces wide and the ditch 4 paces wide. The mound is 10 feet high and the ditch about 9 inches deep. A very fine example of a bellbarrow with wide berm.
‘A’ – a bowl barrow, of the dimensions given above. It is covered in trees and has an old central mutilation.
‘B’ – as described above, with traces of an outer bank on the west. On the east, a lynchet corner stops at the ditch and a modern drainage ditch has encroached on the barrow’s ditch.

Details of long barrow on Pastscape

A long barrow 172 feet long and 108 feet wide and 6 feet high. It appears the same width and height all along. The mound is under grass (1937) and there is a suggestion of flank ditches. (3) Under the plough and visible as a chalk-mound in an arable field on the summit of a hill. Length 58.0m. width at the centre 30.0m. and maximum height – towards the SE end 1.0m. The loamy depressions of ditches can be seen surrounding the NW end and on the flanks of the barrow except where chalk has been spread from the barrow on both sides. Chilbolton Down long barrow stands in an arable field on the north shoulder of a plateau. Irregular spreads of chalky material, visible on the ground as well as on air photographs, are suggestive of deliberate levelling. The barrow lies east-south-east – west-south-west and is rectangular in plan, about 58.0m. long and 1.0m. high towards the centre. (8) Scheduled No. 12115. (9)