Chance

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

The Winterbourne Stoke Crossroads round barrow cemetery comprises a linear arrangement of 19 late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age circular earthwork monuments, commonly known as round barrows. Winterbourne Stoke 3 (Monument Number 870372) to 10 (870444) are aligned to the north-east of the Neolithic long barrow known as Winterbourne Stoke 1 (Monument Number 219696). They extend south-west / north-east for nearly 600m: this alignment continues after a gap of circa 100m (see Winterbourne Stoke 22: Monument Number 219720). A roughly parallel secondary alignment immediately to the west comprises Winterbourne Stoke 2a (Monument Number 866648) to 12 (Monument Number 870446). A cluster of barrows sits slightly apart, circa 250m north-west of the main alignment (Monument Number 215072). Most of the barrows were excavated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in the early 19th century. The barrow cemetery was mapped from aerial photographs at a scale of 1:10,000 as part of the RCHME: Salisbury Plain Training Area NMP, which was revised by English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Mapping project. The barrow cemetery was surveyed at a scale of 1:1000 in August 2009 and January 2010 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. Please consult the individual round barrow records for further information.

Details of barrow cemetery on Pastscape

A barrow cemetery comprising of 22 barrows (Wilsford 37-40, 42-50a) including the Prophet Barrow (SU 14 SW 465) and two confluent bowl barrows (SU 14 SW 469). These include 15 bowl barrows, two bell and two disc barrows. Excavations carried out during the nineteenth century and in June and July of 1959 have located burials, mainly cremations, in most of the barrows. Some were accompanied by grave goods which included daggers, beads and awls. There is however confusion over which barrows contained some of the finds which is a result of confusion over the correlation of Colt Hoare and Rev. E. Dukes barrow numbers to Grinsells barrow numbers due to differences in recent plans to those of Colt Hoare’s, therefore the finds may not be related to their appropriate barrows. The barrows which are mainly affected are Wilsford 47 (SU 14 SW 470), Wilsford 49 (SU 14 SW 472), Wilsford 50 (SU 14 SW 473) and Wilsford 50a (SU 14 SW 474). (2-5)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

Bronze Age bowl barrow, listed by Grinsell as Wilsford 43, and part of the Lake Group of barrows recorded as SU 14 SW 51. The barrow allegedly acquired its name in the early 18th century after French “prophets” set up their standard on it and preached to local people (circa 1710). Excavated in the early 19th century by Colt Hoare, who found a primary cremation in what he described as a wooden box in a large cist. Accompanying the cremation were a bronze dagger and a perforated whetstone-pendant. The barrow is extant as a mutilated mound 1.5 metres high.

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

A Neolithic long barrow, listed by Grinsell as Wilsford (South) 41, and forming part of the Lake group of barrows (SU 14 SW 51). The barrow does not appear to have been excavated, and is extant as an earthwork 140 feet long and 75 feet wide. The mound has a maximum height of 3.5 metres, and has well-defined side ditches.

Details of the central section of the Barrow Group on Pastscape

14 Bronze Age round barrows on Normanton Down survive as earthworks. They form the central group of the Normanton Down round barrow cemetery (Monument Number 1531088). The round barrows were listed individually by Goddard (1913) and Grinsell (1957), as: Wilsford 3-9, 9a, 10-12 and 14-17. The group includes Bush Barrow (Monument Number 943060). The linear barrow cemetery continues to the west (Monument Number 219735) and east (Monument Number 219564). Many of the round barrows were excavated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in the early 19th century and they were surveyed at a scale of 1:1000 in April 2010 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. Please see the individual records for specific details about each barrow.

Details of mortuary enclosure on Pastscape

Neolithic mortuary enclosure on Normanton Down. Originally a rectangular ditched enclosure with internal banks, orientated east-south-east to west-north-west, measuring circa 36 metres by 21 metres. The eastern end was slightly wider than the western. The banks were visible as earthworks in 1949 but had been competely ploughed out by the time the site was fully excavated in 1959. Excavation showed the enclosure to be rectangular with rounded ends, the ditch being interrupted by 11 causeways. The largest causeway, 16 feet long, was at the eastern end. Within and at right angles to this “entrance” were a pair of bedding trenches, each containing 3 post holes. Both yielded evidence for horizontal timbers linking each set of three posts. A shallow linear depression ran across the entrance causeway, linking the ditch segments on either side. The segment south of the entrance showed evidence for recutting. The segment north of the entrance featured a deposit of three antler picks in the ditch terminal adjacent to the entrance. Finds were few – there were no flint or stone artefacts, and only a single potsherd – Mortlake Ware, found high in the ditch silts on the south side. In all, 11 antler were recovered, plus a few bones of sheep/goat and cattle. A radiocarbon date of 3510-2920 Cal BC has been obtained. The enclosure is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs.

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

A Neolithic long barrow survives as earthworks situated circa 350 metres southwest of the main linear alignment of the Normanton Down barrow cemetery (1531088). It was excavated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in the early 19th century (Barrow 173) who found a primary deposit of four skeletons on the “floor” at the eastern end, and a secondary inhumation, possibly Anglo-Saxon, near the top of the mound, also at the eastern end. The barrow was listed as Wilsford 30 by Goddard (1913) and subsequently by Grinsell (1957). It was surveyed at a scale of 1:1000 in April 2010 as part of English Heritage’s Stonehenge WHS Landscape Project. The surviving earthworks extend east / west for circa 43m and comprise a linear mound flanked to the north by a ditch. The eastern end of the mound stands 2.3m high: its summit, which is also aligned east / west, measures 6m long and 3m wide. At least three phases of construction are suggested by the circular mounding of the eastern end, which measures 22m wide at its base, and presence of a narrow terrace, circa 1m wide, on its southern side. The western end of the mound measures circa 12m wide and has been heavily eroded by a trackway. The northern ditch measures up to 8m wide and up to 0.7m deep.

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

The remains of a round cairn cemetery of Bronze Age date are visible on Carleigh Moor. Seven of the round cairns lie immediately north east of the nearby hillfort (NZ 09 NE 2) on sloping ground. These cairns measure 7 metres to 8 metres in diameter and stand between 0.3 metres and 1 metre high. Two of the cairns have the remains of a retaining circle. Two of the other cairns were excavated during the 19th century; a cist and its cover slab lie at the centre of one of the cairns and the second is visible as a scatter of stones with a second cist at its centre. The cemetery extends onto the lower lying ground east of the hillfort where four round cairns are visible.
Three of these form a compact group known as the ‘Warrior Graves’. The three cairns are between 5 metres and 6 metres in diameter and range from 0.4 metres to 1 metre high. The fourth cairn lies 120 metres south east of this group and is 5 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high. Scheduled.

On the north-east side of the hill, on which the camp is (NZ 09 NE 2) are some grave-mounds. Two of the largest have been excavated. The first was 32 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. A cist was found in the centre lying east-west and measuring 3’ 8” by 1’ 10” by 2’ 3” deep. There was no trace of a burial. This cist can yet been seen with its covering slab lying nearby, on the lower ridge of the hill on the way to the camp, after the last stile on the footpath from Rothbury to Lordenshaws.

The second, 20 yards away, was 26 feet in diameter, 4 feet high, and a cist found in the centre completely filled with sand with no trace of bone, measured 2’ 8” by 1’ 8” by 1’ 6” deep. There was a little charcoal together with two small pieces of pottery. A line of small stones may be traced from these burials leading up to the ridge towards the camp. (1)
(NZ 05749958) Cist (TI) (2)
Excavation report: Source of information in authority (1). (3)
Two small pieces of pottery in a barrow.(Present location not given.
Listed under “Urns known from literature only”).

At Lordenshaws a burial mound approx 300 yards NE of the camp has on its margin a carefully packed standing stone 2’ 6” high by 2’ 0” by 1’6”, deeply weathered. (4)
NZ 056993. Six cairns were definitely located on the NE slopes of the hill. Other vague mounds in the region appear to be heather-covered outcrop.

‘A’ NZ 05749958. The remains of a cairn with an apparent diameter of 7.5m and maximum height of 0.3m. In the centre is the cist mentioned by authorities 1 and 2. It measures 1.3m x 0.65m x 0.5m deep. The N, S and E sides are constructed of a single stone slab but the west end is of small stones packed together. The cover slab of the cist lies to the immediate south.

‘B’ NZ 05739959. About 15.0m NW of ‘A’ a scatter of stones on a slight natural rise is probably the remains of the second cairn referred to by authority 1. Insufficient remains for dimensions to be given. On the south side of this scatter is a three-sided cavity in the rocks measuring 0.8m x 0.5m x 0.5m deep. This may be the second cist described by authority 1, the dimensions being approximately the same. The present location of the two pieces of pottery mentioned as being found therein was not ascertained.

‘C’ NZ 05589942. The cairn refered to by authority 4 is 7.0m in diameter and 0.5m high with a hollow in centre. At least three stones of a retaining circle are still in situ. The standing stone
is in the SW quadrant and appears to be merely an extension of a line of stones, 20.0m to the south, evidently the remains of an old field boundary.

This boundary has similarities of construction with an enclosure approx 900.0m to the NNE which is mentioned in the 13th century.

‘D’ NZ 05639940. A cairn 8.0m in diameter and 0.5m high with a hollow in centre. At least five stones of a retaining circle are still in situ.

‘E’ NZ 05689929. An oval cairn measuring 7.0m x 5.0m x 1.0m high and oriented E-W. It appears to be intact.

‘F’ NZ 05889935. Cairn 5.0m diameter and 0.4m high. None of the cairns have any traces of a ditch and only ‘C’ and ‘D’ the remains of a retaining circle.

NZ 05739955 to NZ 05609939. The line of stones referred to by authority 1 can be traced for 200.0m. The stones are small (max ht above ground level 0.4m) and irregularly spaced and appear to demarcate the east side of an old trackway which appears in places as a slight hollow way. No evidence for dating. (5)

Cairns ‘C’ and ‘D’ by virtue of their proportions (see photographs), and the evidence of eristaliths must be classed with ‘A’ and ‘B’ as sepulchral, although all four fall in an area that shows signs of having been cleared for cultivation (see NZ 09 NE 9).

Similarly ‘E’ is a substantial and isolated cairn in a modern enclosure. ‘F’ is smaller than the other five, and its position on the fringe of stone clearance is suspect, but again it is a single
cairn in an area otherwise devoid of stone heaps. Surveyed at 1/2500. (For 1/2500 illust see NZ 09 NE 2). (6)
NZ 058 992 etc. Cup and ring marked rocks, stone rows, tumuli, cairns and Garleigh Hill stone circles and Lordenshaws camp, Hesleyhurst. Scheduled No ND/86. (7)
Authority 5’s cairn C lies within the area surveyed by RCHME in December 1990 and is briefly described in the published account, where it is noted that it is in a conspicuous position when seen
from the lower ground to the east. (8)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Two Bronze Age bell barrows known locally and in early archaeological publications as ‘The Warrior Mounds’ or ‘The Warrior Barrows’. The barrow mounds both survive as upstanding stone and earth mounds measuring 23 metres in diameter and standing up to 2.5 metres high. The mounds were originally surrounded by gently sloping berms 5 metres wide which have been obscured by later ploughing. Beyond the bern edges lie quarry ditches from which material was obtained during the mounds’ construction. These have become infilled over the years but are known from earlier excavation and aerial photographs to survive as buried features 3 metres wide. Excavations carried out in 1848 and 1935 in the vicinity of the barrows produced finds from several periods including Iron Age and Roman pottery fragments, the cremated bones of a woman and child, a male skeleton, and Early Bronze Age dagger and an important selection of early Neolithic and Bronze Age pottery. Scheduled.

[A – SU 5196 8326: B – SU 5201 8329] TUMULI [G.T.] (1) Two round barrows on Blewbury Down.

A. (Lat. 51 32’ 43”, Long. 1 15’ 2” (3). Mound 12 ft. 6ins. high, inside ditch diameter 123 ft.
Opened by Dr. Wilson, Sept. 1848, the material of the mound contained fragments of ‘British’ pottery and one Roman fragment.
Cremated bones of a woman and child were found very near the centre, 8 ft. from the summit. Within a foot of them lay a flat bronze rivetted dagger identified as E.B.A. and now in the Ashmolean Museum. An unaccompanied male skeleton also lay near the centre, 4 ft. from the surface. Dr. Wilson regarded it as of Civil War date (2)(5).

B. (Lat. 51 32’ 44”, Long. 1 15’ 0”) (3) Mound 12 ft. 6 in. high surrounded by a well marked inner ditch 108 ft. in diameter. Excavated c. 1848 by Lousley and King who found – ‘remains of animals, an arrowhead and some trifles’. Many small British pottery vessels, apparently set in a circle, are said to have been discovered. (2)(5). The primary interment may not have been found (3). Both barrows were re-excavated in 1935 by Peake, Coghlan and Marshall.

A. Much wood ash in the mound and a few fragments of early pottery. Under the mound and just south of the centre, was an irregular shallow pit, divided into two sections. In both sections were animal bones, a large amount of E.I.A. pottery and nearly a dozen fragments of Windmill Hill pottery, the latter apparently having been washed into the pit. A large piece of oolitic stone, possibly Roman, was found 18 in. deep, c. 20 ft. from the centre, and 4 R.B. sherds came from just inside the northern berm at a depth of 12”.

B. South of the mound, a pit containing E.I.A. pottery fragments, was intersected by the ditch. In the body of the mound were, a beaker fragment, 2 E.I.A. and 2 R.B. sherds. The filling of the ditch yielded one piece of Peterborough ware, 8 fragments of E.I.A. and 4 R.B. sherds.

Peake concludes from this evidence that the mounds cannot be earlier than Roman and are probably not later. He suggests that there may be a Neolithic causewayed camp in the vicinity and concludes that the bronze dagger found near the cremation burial was not associated with it, but was probably scraped up with the material of the mound, as was the pottery. Peake then says that the purpose of the mounds in uncertain, while R.F. Jessup (4) says there is not sufficient evidence to regard them as Roman. Piggot classifies the early pottery as a remarkably complete series ranging from Ne. ‘A’ to M.B.A. and concludes – “we may assume that they all derive from an adjacent settlement site which appears to have enjoyed continuous occupation over a considerable period of time.” (2-6)
The two barrows are now much reduced in height; ‘A’ measures 6 ft. and ‘B’ 8 ft. Each is surrounded by a crop mark representing the ditch. Published survey (25”) revised. The E.B.A. dagger found by Wilson is in the Ashmolean Museum, Acc, N.C.445, and at present is being restored. (7) Two round barrows 1/4 mile (400m) north of Lower Chance Farm, at SU 520 833, have been scheduled as an Ancient Monument (Oxon No.191) (8) The barrows are visible on aerial photographs. The external ditches appear as cropmarks. (10)

Details of Stone on Pastscape

Bronze Age cup marked standing stone (in situ). One face of the stone is marked with seven clear cup marks and three small pecked marks. The stone is visible on air photographs.

(NZ 04347465) The Warrior Stone (TI). Standing Stone (LB). (1)
In a field south of Sandywayhead farmhouse, Ingoe, is a standing stone about 6 ft high, known locally as ‘The Warrior Stone’. Marked as “Stone” on OS 6” (sited NZ 0434 7465). (2)
A much weathered standing stone 2.0m high and 0.5m square at the base, with four distinct cup marks on its east face. See photograph. (3)
NZ 043 746. Sandyway Heads standing stone. Scheduled No ND/133. (4)
The Warrior Stone H00756 NZ 044 747
Close to Sandyway Heads in a field sloping to the south, this standing stone has seven clear cup marks on one face and three small pecked cups. (5)
A Bronze Age standing stone is visible as a structure on air photographs at NZ 0434 7465. (6)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

A round barrow with an earth and stone mound, standing up to 1.2 metres high. There is a hollow in the centre of the mound, caused by partial excavation in the past. On the west side of this hollow is a boundary stone, bearing on its south-eastern face the inscription ‘By Order of the Commissioner of Wykeham Inclosure 1786’. Scheduled.

(SE 8921 9618) Low Woof Howe (NR). (1)
SE 8919 9618 The remains of a heather-covered barrow composed of earth and stone, 15.0 m diameter and 1.5 m high, the centre of which has been removed. Surveyed at 1:10 000. Surmounted by a boundary stone inscribed: “By order of the commissioner of Wykeham 1786”.
The name Low Woof Howe still applies. (2)
SE 892 961. Low Woof Howe round cairn. Scheduled no. NY/891. (3)
A round barrow with an earth and stone mound, standing up to 1.2 metres high. There is a hollow in the centre of the mound, caused by partial excavation in the past. On the west side of this hollow is a boundary stone, bearing on its south-eastern face the inscription ‘By Order of the Commissioner of Wykeham Inclosure 1786’. Scheduled. (4)

Details of site on Pastscape

A Bronze Age bowl barrow situated in the corner of Ogbourne St Andrew Churchyard. Excavations in 1885 by Henry Cunnington located primary Bronze Age cremation, an Anglo-Saxon inhumation and about twenty intrusive inhumations thought to be part of the medieval churchyard. In 1974 the barrow was visible as an earthwork 23 metres in diameter, 1.6 metres high with an 0.3 metre deep mutilation in the top.

(SU 1888 7234) Tumulus (NR). (1)
A round barrow in Ogbourne St Andrew churchyard, excavated by Henry Cunnington in 1885. He found about 20 skeletons in the top 2 or 3 feet; a skeleton in a fir-wood coffin with iron clamps, near the centre and 5 ft down; a cremation wrapped in a cloth and associated with a flint knife and a small ‘food vessel’ at 7 ft; and, at the old ground level, abundant traces of wood ash and cremations, irregularly scattered, and ‘what appeared to be the side of a trench’ some 6 or 7 ft in length and lined with wood. Other items found in the excavation were a fine leaf-shaped arrowhead just below the surface at the top of the barrow, and several ‘interesting flint implements and rubbers of sarsen stone, turned up in the course of excavation’. Cunnington interpreted the 20 skeletons as medieval burials (probably of poor people as there were no traces of coffins); the skeleton in the coffin as probably Saxon; and the lower level remains as (inferentially) Bronze Age, with the trench feature possibly the remains of a (primary) burial pit. (2).
Other authorities (3, 4, 5, 6) give summaries of the excavation without dissenting from Cunnington’s conclusions. The cremation cloth is separately discussed (7). The skeleton and coffin are generally accepted as probably Saxon, and are illustrated by Baldwin Brown; they went to Devizes Museum (4). The dimensions of the barrow are given by Cunnington as Diam c 85ft, height at least 11ft; and Grinsell gives practically the same. (2-8)
SU 18877233. A bowl barrow 23.0 metres in diameter and 1.6 metres high with an 0.3 metre deep mutilation in the top. Tree covered. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (9)

Details of site on Pastscape

Chambered round barrow listed by Grinsell as Ogbourne St Andrew 19, possibly Neolithic, excavated by Lukis in 1861. The mound had already suffered considerable damage by then. The excavations located an inhumation and a cremation. The cremation was accompanied by a potsherds and a bone chisel, the inhumation by a stone muller or rubber. In 1863 the mound was described as being 47 feet in diameter and formed largely of sarsens laid flat over a low mound, whereas Lukis had referred to a mutilated tumulus with a circle of upright stones near the base. No surface trace remains of the monument. The monument was not seen on available air photographs.

(SU 14867251) Long Barrow (NR) (site of). (1)
“...the mutilated remains of a stone barrow having a kistvaen at the east end” comparable with that at Clatford Bottom (SU 16 NE 36 Long Barrow). (2) Lukis, who excavated here in 1861, describes it only as a very mutilated tumulus of earth and stones near the base of which was a circle of upright stones some of which remained. No trace of a covered passage could be found and only two uprights of a chamber remained, with a third stone to the east. Between the uprights he found an inhumation burial with its head to the south. Beside it was a stone muller or rubber. Outside the E upright a cremation burial was found, with fragments of pottery, and a bone chisel was found tucked in at the base of the stone. This chisel and two stone mullers are in Devizes Museum. (3-4)
A tumulus about 47 ft in diameter and nearly entirely formed of large sarsen stones laid flat over a low mound of earth. A little from the centre of the SW side two large flat stones rise above the rest to a height of 6 ft above the mound and a former cap-stone has fallen to the north. No sign could be seen of the former presence of stones at either end of the erect stones nor was there any trace of the earth and stones that had formed the mound over the chamber. (Lukis (above) makes it plain that Harrod is describing the mound excavated by him two years before). (5) There is no direct evidence to justify describing this as a long barrow. No trace remains of the mound. (6) There are no surface remains. (7) No trace of this feature was seen when the area was mapped at 1:10,000 from air photographs. (8)

Details of site on Pastscape

A double row of sarsens possibly representing a stone alignment. The presence of sarsens could not be confirmed from an air photographic survey in 1995.

(Centred SU 13687297) Double row of sarsen holes, eight on the SW and 12 on the NE. (1)
This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. The presence of sarsen holes could not be confirmed by the AP survey. (2)

Details of site on Pastscape

Bronze Age round barrow cemetery comprising bowl barrows Preshute 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 9b. At least four still survive as mounds. Barrow 9 may possibly have been a pond barrow.

(Centred SU 13657295) Tumuli (NR). (1)
Rough Hill Group of bowl barrows, all listed by Grinsell. [Concordance between Ordnance Survey and Grinsell:
‘A’ = Preshute 4, ‘B’ = Preshute 5, ‘C’ = Preshute 6, ‘D’ = Preshute 7, ‘E’ = Preshute 8, ‘F’ = Preshute 9, ‘G’ = Preshute 9b]
‘A’ SU 13607295. Very ill defined, diam 16 paces; height 1’.
‘B’ SU 13657294. Slight ditch, diam 7 paces; height 1’.
‘C’ SU 13677294. Slight ditch, diam 12 paces; height 3’.
‘D’ SU 13687293. Diam 13 paces; height 3’.
Cairn mainly of sarsens.
‘E’ SU 13507297. Diam 14 paces; height 3’.
‘F’ SU 13777296. Diam 17 paces; height nil.
Large circular hollow with sarsens at bottom, surrounded by a rim of earth; like a pond barrow lined with sarsens, but probably not.
‘G’ SU 13707294. Possible barrow found by Grinsell in 1938, re-visited 1950. Diam 7 paces; height 1/2’. (2)

“A” A bowl barrow up to 18.0 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high. In a very poor condition.
“B” A bowl barrow up to 8.0 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high with vestiges of a ditch.
“C” A bowl barrow 13.0 metres in diameter and 0.9 metres high with vestiges of a ditch.
“D” A bowl barrow 12.0 metres in diameter and 0.9 metres high with a large stone content.
“E” A badly mutilated bowl barrow approximately 24.0 metres in diameter and up to 0.7 metres high. In a poor condition.
“F” There is no trace of this feature on the ground; ? ploughed out.
“G” A possible bowl barrow 6.5 metres in diameter and 0.3 metres high.
Published 25” survey revised. (3)

This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. Mounds were recorded at SU 13607295, SU 13657294, SU 13677294 and SU 13507297 (’A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘E’ above). The mounds described as ‘D’, ‘F’ and ‘G’ above were not confirmed by the AP survey. (4-5)

Details of stones on Pastscape

Two round barrows situated to the west of Barton Copse. They are visible on air photographs as broad, light coloured, circular bands about 30 metres in diameter.

(A) SU 16926964 (B) SU 16956962. Round barrows west of Barton Copse. (1)
These sites could not be traced on the ground. The area lies on the crest of a S facing chalk spur under plough. Both sites appear on the AP (a) as broad light coloured circular bands about 30.0m in diameter. The field seems to have been under stubble at the time and other elliptical bands near the boundary hedge suggest that all the marks are the result of agricultural activity. (2)

Details of site on Pastscape

Sites of eleven Bronze Age round barrows seen as cropmarks and mapped from aerial photographs.

(SU 15416901) Tumulus (NR) (1) Preshute 3: SU 15416901. A bowl barrow 35 paces by 5ft high, on arable land and spread. (2) In 1955 two barrow circles were seen as crop marks of similar size. One (A: SU 15256901) within the west border of the field had two concentric ditches several feet apart. The other (B: SU 15296901) first appeared as a single ditch but in 1962 showed up as two concentric ditches. In addition to these marks Dr I Smith and W E V Young in 1962 saw another smaller ring about 50 yds south east of Preshute 3 (D: SU 15446893). Dr Smith reported marks of a further barrow
which later showed as a very small circle (C: SU 15246903) on the extreme edge of the field. (3-5)
The published barrow, Preshute 3, has now been destroyed but shows on the Wilts CC air photo as a light circular band, 30.0 m overall, indicating the ditch and enclosing a darker area. None of the other reported cropmarks can be identified on the ground but the ring ditch at approximately SU 15446893 visible on the St Joseph air photo is probably ‘D’. No site can be seen on OS AP’s.
OS 1:2500 published survey revised. (6)

These barrows were mapped at 1:10,000 from APs as part of the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. Their positions were fixed more accurately and a further six barrows were recorded. It is clear from AP evidence that five of the barrows comprise double ring ditches, and that within four of these, the inner ring ditch is off centre.
SU 15416900 (Preshute 3 above): a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 45m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15276900 (’A’ above): a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 40m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15326900 (’B’ above): two concentric ring ditches with an overall diameter of 35m.
SU 15226901 (’C’ above): a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 30m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15476893 (’D’ above): a single ring ditch 35m in diameter.
SU 15486898: a double ring ditch with an overall diameter of 28m. The inner ring is off centre.
SU 15266908: a single ring ditch 20m in diameter.
SU 15306910: a single ring ditch 18m in diameter.
SU 15596892: a single ring ditch 18m in diameter.
SU 15586882: a single ring ditch 15m in diameter.
SU 15546891: a partial single ring ditch 18m in diameter. (7)

Details of site on Pastscape

Possible cup markings identified on a sarsen in Delling Penning. The stone “is situated within an old field and a few feet from the edge of a baulk running downhill from north west to south east, between the south western corner of Totterdown Wood and Delling Cottage”.

SU 135715: Twenty well-preserved cup-markings on the south east slope of a recumbent sarsen stone in Delling Penning. The stone is situated within an old field and a few feet from the edge of a baulk running downhill from north west to south east, between the south western corner of Totterdown Wood and Delling Cottage. (1) The sarsen is at SU 13437152 and is as described by Lacaille. The markings are not easily distinguished, and are of uncertain origin, though they cannot easily be dismissed as natural. Photograph not practicable. (2) Scheduled, National Number 33951. (3)

Details of site on Pastscape

A mound on Granham Hill has been suggested to be a possible long barrow. It is 76 metres long, 13 metres wide, and up to 2.3 metres high at the eastern end and 3.1 metres high at the western end. It has suffered damage from the presence of a parish boundary ditch, a hollow way, and ploughing. No side ditches can be observed on the ground. Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1974 suggests that while its orientation, general appearance and proportion mark it out as a likely long barrow, the fact that the western end is taller casts doubt on this classification. However, a westerly-orientated long barrow would hardly be unheard of.

(SU 17976797) A possible long barrow marked by O Meyrick on Granham Hill. (1)
A mound 76.0m long, 13.0m wide rising from a height of 2.3m at the E to 3.1m at the W; it is composed of earth and flints, covered by very old trees, and is situated just below the crest of a N
facing slope. The feature is cut along the spine by an old parish boundary ditch, to the S of which all trace of the mound appears to be completely ploughed out. At its W end there is a 0.6m deep scarp extending N which suggests that this side of the mound has been constructed by scarping; a side ditch is not evident. Material has been removed from the E end of the mound, possibly for repair to the hollow-way which skirts its eastern extremity. In spite of its orientation, general appearance and proportion, the fact that the west end is higher than the east does cast some doubt on its classification as a long barrow. Surveyed at 1:2500. (2)

Details of Flag Barrow on Pastscape

Bowl barrow surviving as a mutilated earthwork. The mound has been `squared up’ to form a platform for a flagstaff which is set in the top.

SU 18067026 Tumulus (NR). (1) Bowl barrow, diam 25 paces; height 5 1/2’. (2) A mutilated bowl barrow 20.0 metres in diameter and 1.2 metres high. The mound has been “squared-up” to form a rough platform for a flagstaff set in the top. Published 25” survey revised. (3)

Details of site on Pastscape

Barrow group comprising two bowl barrows and a possible bell or bowl barrow with a possible tree ring. Two of the barrows have been incorporated into golf tees. All survive as earthworks but were noted to be in poor condition in 1975.

(Centred SU 18047019) Tumuli (NR). (1)
(SU 18107020.) Possible bell-barrow, query whether surrounding ditch is original or a recent tree-ring. Mound diam. 100’; height 4’; berm width 30’?; (no dimensions for ditch).
(SU 18067019) scheduled bowl barrow. Turned into a golf tee and cannot be measured.
(SU 17977017). Mutilated bowl barrow, diam 14 paces; height 3’. (2)
SU 18107020. The barrow is very badly mutilated and can no longer be positively classified either as a bell or bowl. The mound which is approximately 38.0 metres by 34.0 metres and about 1.5 metres high has been ‘adapted’ to accommodate two golf-tees. Its ditch is no longer evident.
SU 18067019. As described.
SU 17957015. The mutilated barrow is up to 13.5 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres high.
In a poor condition. Published 25” survey 1:2500 revised. (3)

Details of site on Pastscape

A probably Late Prehistoric or Roman trackway defined by a hollow way and external banks for much of its length seen as earthworks in a 2006 lidar survey. (1) (SU 1118 6896). Parts of the trackway are also visible in two aerial photograph (2) (3)

This route deviates away from West Kennet and the Roman road to the north bypassing the Avebury Henge after which it appears to link to another trackway that runs into the field system on Monkton Down (NMR 221722). It is likely that this track represents an important access route from the Kennet valley up into the field systems on the downs.

Geographically the track runs up a dry coombe to the north of West Kennet it then follows a flat terrace that skirts the bottom of Avebury Down. The track seems to incorporate the barrow Avebury 21 into its bank (NMR 220877) and would have passed close to Faulkner’s circle (NMR 220780).

Details of site on Pastscape

(SU 15206965) Devil’s Den (NAT) Burial Chamber (NR) (1)
Preshute 3a; Long barrow, destroyed except for ruined remains of chamber, re-set 1921. Orientated SE-NW, with larger end to SE. Assessed by Passmore to have been 230ft x 130ft; there may have been a forecourt originally. (2) In 1921 the remains of the barrow were much spread and lowered by ploughing but still visible. The chamber was about 70ft inwards from the larger end. (3)
‘Devil’s Den’ (name confirmed and in local usage) is situated at 450ft OD, in arable, at the bottom of a broad shallow coombe. The NE upright stone, supported at its outerbase by concrete, is 3.0m long, that on the SW is 2.6m long and leaning; both enclose an overall ground width of 3.6m. Height to top of capstone approx 2.5m. Two large fallen sarsens within the chamber possibly represent end stones, and a further 16 (? field clearance) sarsen fragments lie within the interior. The chamber, which remains in good condition rests upon a grass covered mound, diameter 7.6m, height 0.8m. All other ground spread of the barrow is now ploughed out. Divorced survey at 1:2500. (4) The mound was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Mapping Project. No further information was recorded. (5)

Details of site on Pastscape

SU 14397128 “Long Tom”. A finely-dressed sarsen monolith, 8 ft 3 in high with squared sides about one foot across, on the parish boundary. (1)
SU 14407127. The stone, in common with other boundary and standing stones in the neighbourhood, bears the marks of the steel wedges used to split it from a larger block, suggesting that it is of
recent date. (2) Scheduled, National Number 33951. (3)

Details of site on Pastscape

(SU 1515 7140) Burial Chamber (NR) SU 1513 7140 Manton Down Long Barrow. Length 65’; width 35’; height 3 1/2’. No 11 on Wessex map. (2) The remains of the burial chamber were at the E end and could not have been more than 6’ square internally (3) (4). Traces of an orthostatic revetment are still visible (4) and one outlying stone at SE corner of the could be remains of the peristalith. (3). Hoare (5) refers to the mound being “set round with stone” and Mrs Cunnington (6) noted three or four stones being partly buried c 1913. Has been levelled by a bulldozer. A rescue excavation was carried out by R J C Atkinson in 1955. Publication forthcoming.
There are no surface indications of this long barrow in the arable field. 5 large sarsen slabs and numerous smaller sarsens lie in a patch of scrub centred SU 1513 7141 immediately adjacent to the
barrow site; it is probable that some formed the burial chamber (see illustration card) Sited on 1:2500 Description of the site and history of antiquarian and archaeological investigation, including a summary of Atkinson’s excavation. Barker also states that the remains “are shown on all OS maps at SU 15137140,while they actually stand some 350m to the west at SU 14787135”. (10)
The site of the long barrow is located within the area mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. In the light of Barker’s comments, an attempt was made to determine the barrow’s true location. Information received from Prof PJ Fowler suggested that Barker’s assertion was based, in part, on a site visit during which he apparently found a pile of stones in a hedge at his preferred location. Two slight mounds were recorded from APs in the vicinity of Barker’s revised location, but are probably abraded field system lynchets. At the location originally given on OS maps (SU 15137140) most APs from 1946-1982 show a clump of rough vegetation covering an area of disturbed ground and obscuring surface detail, although CUCAP photographs taken in 1954 show an area of bulldozer damage at this spot. It seems likely that the stones noted by Barker had been moved by bulldozer from their original location, and that the grid reference indicated on OS maps is correct. (11-13)

Details of site on Pastscape

An Iron Age “developed” multivallate hillfort with substantial earthwork remains. The hillfort measures 400m wide east to west by 290m wide north to south. It is one of a number of hillforts located on or close to the line of the Iron Age and later Ridgeway (see NMR LINEAR60). The hillfort is located at the western end of the ridge of Barbury Hill at a height of 265m. The hillfort comprises two concentric rings of banks and ditches enclosing an oval area of circa 4.5ha and has entrances, which both measure circa 10m wide, at the eastern and western ends aligned with the ridge. A track, possibly an offshoot of the Ridgeway, extends between the entrances and was adopted as the parish boundary between Wroughton and Ogbourne St Andrew. The eastern entrance is defended by a right angled outwork which comprised a ditch and bank that extends out from the main hillfort and which may be the remains of an earlier Bronze Age enclosure as the hillfort banks appear to overlay it. The northern part of the outwork has become in-filled due to 20th century cultivation. Excavations have uncovered Iron Age rubbish pits. Iron Age /Roman, Anglo-Saxon finds have made and Anglo-Saxon inhumations have been found. The hillfort was used for defence / training by the United States Army during the Second World War and they caused significant damage to the western entrance when they widened it. The interior of the hillfort also suffered damage from bombing and the construction of slit trenches (see NMR SU 17 NW 152 and NMR SU 17 NW 153, respectively). Immediately northwest of the hillfort lies a flat topped Bronze Age bowl barrow (see NMR SU 17 NW 154) and just to the west is a Bronze Age disc barrow (see NMR SU 17 NW 7). A post medieval dewpond has been constructed on the south-e

Details of site on Pastscape

A stone circle near Clatford was first recorded by John Aubrey in the 17th cent. In 1723 Stukeley noted that in the lane, or rather Roman Road between Marlborough and Devizes, over against Clatford and on the edge of the meadow just by the side of the Kennet, close to Clatford Bottom “lie twelve stones flat upon the ground in the middle of the road which seems to widen on purpose for it and takes a little turn, too, upon that account. Eight of them seem to lie in a circle (see plan (2)) and the other four may possibly have been the entrance or beginning of an Avenue; they are all very large, being about the size and shape of the stones of the outer circle of Stonehenge.
I measured one, 16 1/2ft long, 2yds broad .... There are two barrows within site of it .... a little further westward you turn on the right into the fields which leads (leaving a barrow on the left hand) into the Clatford Bottom”.
The stones have long since disappeared, Colt Hoare only being able to cite Aubrey as evidence, and AC Smith could not identify the site in the 1880’s (1).
Free (3) considers the site to be on a piece of unenclosed ground SE of Clatford cross roads on which there is still a Pound, (SU 16106840). The area is known as Broken Crosses.
Grinsell (4) sites the circle to SU 16106855, quoting Piggott. Meyrick, however, mentions ‘The Broadstones’ as being the local name for the circle and “Broadstone W Meadow” shown by Smith as the Tithe Map name for the narrow strip between the Bath road and the Kennet, bounded on the west by Clatford Bottom and on the east by Plough Cottage. (Area SU 16126900) “Bradstone mede” can be dated back to 1466. (5). (1-5) A topographical view of the stone circle, bisected by a road and contained within wide verges, appears on a drawing of 1722 (b). The site lies above Broadstone Mead (c) on the N side of the river where the road forms a junction with a secondary track. (6) The map with the Inclosure Award of 1792 (d) suggests that the “Lord Bruce’s Arms” now “Elm cottage” at SU15916898, was built where the road had locally widened or deviated. There is now no evidence of this, though it is feasible, and the plot lies immediately north of “Broadstone Watermeadow” (e). Stukeley’s ground observations of barrows etc, can also be deduced from this area. The siting indicated by Grinsell and Free seems largely based on the field name “Broken Crosses”. Neither the Tithe nor the Inclosure map shows any local widening of the road in the vicinity. (7)

Details of site on Pastscape

A Bronze Age bowl barrow, listed by Grinsell as Preshute 1a, excavated in 1906 by B and M Cunnington. Approximately central beneath the mound was a crouched inhumation, said to be an adult female, lying on the former ground surface, accompanied by numerous objects including a bronze knife-dagger with amber pommel, a small dagger blade, 150 shale beads, some amber beads, a gold-bound amber disc, a gold-bound shale bead, a small gold “halberd pendant” with bronze blade, some bronze awls, and a small pottery “grape cup”. An incense cup was found a short distance away. Elsewhere in the mound was an upright Collared Urn, though no accompanying cremation was found. All the finds are in Devizes Museum. The skeleton was reinterred after excavation and the barrow reconstructed.

Details of site on Pastscape

Neolithic chambered long barrow first investigated by Stukeley in 1723. Listed by Grinsell as Preshute 10c. By the time of Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1975, only a large amorphous ground swelling existed. An elongated patch of chalk was observed during recent RCHME aerial survey.

SU 12907290) Long Barrow (NR)(site of)(NAT). (1)
The “Old Chapel” long barrow, length 100’; width 27’. Aligned NW-SE, large end first(2).Daniel quotes Stukeley(b)who examined it in 1723. The barrow, at the NW side of a large enclosure (SU 17 SW 94), had stone works at each end and was surrounded by stones. The burial chamber appears to have been at the NW, being a semi-ellipse of five stones, a stonehenge cell in miniature although in ruins, the stones being generally about 10’ long. Daniel states that it seems likely that the barrow was once chambered. When O G S Crawford(4) visited it in 1921 he was able to recognise only a low mound, almost completely ploughed out.
Hoare(a) records that only one stone and slight traces of the barrow remained. (2-4)
A large amorphous ground swelling in arable land, indicates the site. No sarsens noted in the vicinity. Published 25” siting correct.(5) This area was mapped at 1:10,000 from APs by the Fyfield Down and Overton Down Mapping Project. The barrow was not recorded by the AP survey. (6)
Re-examination of the air photographs for the Avebury World Heritage Site Project identified an elongated patch of chalk at this location, which is presumed to represent the badly eroded long barrow mound. (7)

Details of Enclosure 2 on Pastscape

A sub-rectangular enclosure visible as a cropmark on air photographs, located immediately adjacent to barrows of the Beckhampton cemetery (SU 06 NE 76). Measuring circa 42 metres by 32 metres, its southeastern corner is cut by the A361. The enclosed area appears to contain traces of a mound.

[NB this site was formerly recorded as part of SU 06 NE 179. That record should be consulted for some additional sources and information]

An RCHME 1:2500 scale air photo interpretation survey was carried out in April 1992. An enclosure was noted, possibly related to the barrow group (SU 06 NE 76). The feature at SU 09246917 consisted of a ditch surrounding a sub-rectangular area, measuring 42m x 32m containing traces of a mound, cut by the A361 on the S side. (1) The enclosure described by the previous authority has also been mapped at 1:10,000 scale. (2) Soffe lists the site as a possible barrow, though interpretation as an enclosure is more plausible on present evidence. It is unclear whether it is contemporary with or later than the barrow cemetery. (3, 4).

Details of Enclosure 1 on Pastscape

A sub-rectangular ditched enclosure visible as a cropmark on air photographs. Circa 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, aligned north-south, only parts of the north, east and west sides are visible, the northwest corner also being clipped by the A361. It lies close to the Beckhampton barrow cemetery (SU 06 NE 76), but it is unclear if it is contemporary. Another sub-rectangular cropmark, SU 06 NE 273, also lies close by.

An RCHME, 1:2500 scale air photo interpretation survey (Event UID 965816) was carried out in April 1992. Two features were noted, possibly related to the barrow group described in SU 06 NE 76, but they were sub-rectangular rather than basically curvilinear as was the shape of the barrows. The first feature at SU 09246917 consisted of a ditch surrounding a sub-rectangular area, measuring 42m x 32m containing traces of a mound, cut by the A361 on the S side. The second feature lay just to the south SU 09286916 and again suggested a parts of a ditch surrounding a sub-rectangular area of ground, measuring 20m x 10m. This second site was much confused by recent agricultural marks. The archive created by this project (Collection UID 965795) is held by the RCHME. (1) The prehistoric or Roman enclosures, described by the previous authority, have also been mapped at 1:10,000 scale. The second sub-square enclosure described appears to be co-located with a small Bronze Age round barrow (see SU 06 NE 272 for a full description). (3-5) NB this record now deals solely with the southernmost enclosure, that at SU 09286917. The other enclosure has been recorded separately as SU 06 NE 273. Soffe (1993) lists the site as a possible barrow, though he notes alternative interpretations may be equally plausible. Despite the proximity of the barrow cemetery, without excavation it is impossible to assign date or function with any certainty. (2, 6)

Details of enclosure on Pastscape

Double-ditched curvilinear enclosure with an internal pit visible as a cropmark within the henge at Avebury.

A 1:1000 scale level 3 photogrammetric survey of the features visible as parch marks within the henge at Avebury was carried out by the RCHME Air Photography Unit between the 17th and 28th June 1996. The survey was carried to record a newly discovered double-ditched enclosure situated within the north-western quadrant of the henge. The enclosure is cut by the garden wall of one of the houses on the northern side of road. Faint traces of the enclosure can be discerned within the garden. The enclosure is curvilinear with four convex sides and very curved corners. Within the enclosure there appears to be a central pit. No previous record of the site is known, and it was not recorded during the early surveys of the site, indicating that it had been eroded or flattened very early on. A morphological parallel has been suggested between this and the Neolithic oval barrow at Radley nr Abingdon (Bradley 1992 and Wilson 1982). Photogrammetric plans were prepared with the aid of the AERIAL 4.20 rectification software published by Bradford University. The resultant plan was combined with the RCHME earthwork survey at 1:1000 scale. Also included were the parchmarks noted on the ground in 1990 by the RCHME Field survey. The plan, report and digital files are held by the RCHME (Collection UID 1057206). (1) A discussion of the cropmark, accompanied by photographs and transcription, has been published (4).

Details of Barrow Cemetery on Pastscape

A Bronze Age barrow cemetery comprising 6 or 7 barrows located south of Beckhampton Penning. The group comprises four disc barrows (Grinsell’s All Canning’s Cross 23 and Avebury 65-7), 2 saucer barrows (Avebury 67a and b), and a cropmark ring ditch discovered subsequent to Grinsell’s gazetteer. The four saucer barrows were excavated by Thurnham, probably in the 1850s. Few details were published by him, but one contained a pottery vessel (“Aldbourne Cup”) with a cremation; a second contained a further Aldbourne Cup and cremation, this time with a bronze awl. The other two were “unproductive”. However, it is impossible to say which of the barrows contained the cremation deposits. Thurnham may also have excavated the two saucer barrows, again withut result. All 6 of the barrows Thurnham refers to had apparently been dug into previously by persons unknown. The individual barrows are recorded separately. This record comprises general information about the group, plus specific information on the saucer barrow Avebury 66. Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1973 recorded this barrow as being 35 metres in diameter, surrounded by a ditch 0.2 metres deep. There was no trace of any central “tump” or outer bank surviving.

Details of site on Pastscape

A possible prehistoric rectangular enclosure, surrounding a ring-ditch, probably the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, are visible as cropmarks on air photographs.
Crop marks of a quadrangular enclosure surrounding a ring-ditch (SU 09336783) visible on air photographs. (1) Nothing visible on the ground or on OS AP. (2) The possible prehistoric enclosure and probably Bronze Age ring ditch described by the previous authorities has been mapped from air photographs. The enclosure is only partially visible, measures 100m by 120m, and is centred at SU 0930 6780. The west side of the enclosure is possibly attached to a series of faintly visible boundaries. The ring-ditch is probably the remains of a round barrow and measures 35m across. It is unclear how the enclosure and ring ditch are related, if at all.(3-4)

Details of earthwork on Pastscape

Linear earthwork of presumed later prehistoric date, comprising an earthwork bank and ditch, running roughly east-west from Knoll Down towards White Horse Plantation. Three sections are the subject of two schedulings.

A generally well preserved, grass covered, linear boundary bank and ditch (erroneously described by Crawford (a) as the Old Bath Road – this feature is published and described on OS 25” about 100.0m to the N – extending almost continuously for 2320m in a NW-SE direction, from SU 05106958 to SU 07366918 along the S side of a dry valley in which are vestiges of Field Systems (see SU 06 NE 98, 123) A gap in the linear of some 200.0m occurs between SU 06976945 and SU 07136932 where its
continuity is represented by crop marks and a parish boundary. The earthwork has an average width of 12.0m with a flat-topped bank up to 7.0m wide and 1.2m high, but considerably reduced on the S facing scarp where it passes through arable and a ditch up to 1.0m deep on the higher side. At its N end the bank and ditch has been utilised and overlaid by a probable Md or later sheep penning (see SU 06 NE 50), and at its eastern extremity, the S side of the bank partially overlies the outer bank of a saucer barrow (see SU 06 NE 48). It seems most probable that the linear represents a LBA/EIA ranch type boundary. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (1) The possible prehistoric linear earthwork has also been mapped from air photographs. (2)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Two Bronze Age barrows on Knoll Down. A saucer barrow, Grinsell’s Avebury 4, and a bowl barrow, Grinsell’s Avebury 5. Both are still extant as earthwork mound with associated ditches, and in the case of the saucer barrow, an outer bank.

(A: SU 07246922 and B: SU 07266921) Tumuli (NR). (1)
Two barrows on Knoll Down listed by Grinsell (2) as (A) Avebury 4: saucer barrow, mound 58ft by 2ft ditch 10ft by 6ins, outer-bank 10ft by 6ins, overlapped by a ditch. (B) Avebury 5: ditched bowl barrow, 13 paces by 3ft. Crawford (3) however describes both of these as bell barrows. (2,3)
Avebury 4: A saucer barrow; overall diameter 30.0m. Mound 15.0m diameter 0.9m high; ditch 3.5m wide by 0.3m deep; outer bank 4.0m wide by 0.2m high.
The NE quadrant of the outer bank is partially overlaid by a linear earthwork (SU 06 NE 135).
Avebury 5: A ditched bowl barrow; overall diameter 15.0m; mound 11.0m diameter, height 1.3m. The ditch well defined as a vegetation mark, is overlaid on the W by the outer bank of the adjacent saucer barrow. The tumuli are somewhat obscured by rank grass. Published 1:2500 survey revised. (4)