Chance

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Cairn and possible barrow or windmill tump in Charlcombe.
Charlcombe 1. – A cairn, with a large hollow in the centre, at St 7130 6835, found by L.V. Grinsell in 1961. This is a crescentic mound 0.3m high at ST 71286838. It is probably a ruined cairn. To the south at ST 71296831 is a small circular mound 0.6m. high with a hollow centre. It is possibly a barrow but may be a windmill mound. Surveyed at 1/2500. (1)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Two Bronze Age Barrows, one no longer visible, in Lansdown Race Field.
[ST 7189 6875 & ST 7192 6877] (2)
In Lansdown Race Field, two barrows were excavated in June 1908. Nothing was found in one and in the other, some sherds of ‘pre-Roman pottery’, calcined bones and flints, were found near the centre. An iron fence runs across the centre of the field and one of the barrows is 80 yards east of it, the other barrow being 84 ft. south-east of the first. (1) Indicated on small scales maps (3)(4). A small possible barrow 0.4m high at ST 71956875 probably one of the features excavated in 1908. Surveyed at 1/2500. There is no trace of the other mound. (5)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Two Bronze Age Bowl Barrows found in Flock Down Field, off Lansdown Road, and 400 yards North-West of Beckford Tower.
[ST 7340 6771] TUMULUS [G.T.] [One of two ‘Tumuli’ shown on O.S. 1”, 1830] (1)
A tumulus, situated in a field on the west side of the Lansdown Road, and about 400 yards north-west of Beckford Tower, [sited at ST 7375 6760 approx. (3)] was excavated Sept./Oct. 1909 and found to contain 27 cremations, some in urns, and one inhumation.(2)
[ST 7331 6780] A second round barrow in this field (Flock Down) is visible although greatly flattened by ploughing. Scatter of burnt bones produced by ploughing. (4)
The published feature is a much spread bowl barrow 0.3m high. Published survey (25”) revised. A slight rise at ST 73276781 is visible when viewed from certain angles. It is undoubtedly the feature reported by Gardner and is probably the remains of a bowl barrow. Sited on 1/2500 plan. (5) Published barrow now no longer extant (6) (ST 73416771) Tumulus(NR) (site of)(NAT) (7)

Details of site on Pastscape

Earthwork remains of a possible Iron Age enclosure and cropmarks of an associated rectilinear enclsoure. Scheduled.
[ST 7212 6986] Earthwork [NR] (1)
The earthwork on the left hand side (west) of the Lansdown road, a quarter of a mile short of the Grenville monument, was trenched on the north side in September 1908, and found to consist of a bank and outer ditch. No coins or relics were found. Part of the earthwork may have extended into the field on the other side of the road. (2) Scheduled. (3)
The scarps shown on the O.S. 6” E. of the road are the results of quarrying. (4)
The earthwork is visible on both sides of the road. It consists of a low non-defensive bank, with an outer ditch around the western half. On the east the earthwork is less well defined and in parts has been dug into, probably for road stone. It seems likely that this is an I.A. stock enclosure which was later crossed by the Roman road. Visible on air photographs.
Surveyed at 1/2500. (5)
An undated earthwork, the part west of the road having now almost disappeared in the playing field which occupies the area. (6)
Lansdown Camp. Additional references and field report. (7)
A rapid examination of air photography (8a) shows the enclosure and also suggests the presence of at least one possible rectilinear enclosure east of the main enclosure. (8)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Two confluent bowl barrows and a single bowl barrow in the South corner of Fair Field, Lansdown. Excavations located inhumations and cremations.

[ST 7252 6870 & 7254 6868] TUMULI [NR] (1)
Two barrows excavated in 1908 one of which was a long barrow situated in the fork of the two paths leading from the turnstile in the south corner of Fair Field, Lansdown. A walled cairn, with an extended inhumation and a secondary cremation with a broken cinerary urn and incense cup were found. It may have contained a food-vessel primary burial. The second barrow was a round barrow but larger than the former. It contained an inhumation and two inurned cremations. Williams (3) seems to accept both as round barrows. (2-3)
‘A’ 0.6m high has the appearance of being two confluent bowl barrows but this shape may have resulted from the 1908 excavation. It is not a long barrow.
‘B’ is a large bowl barrow 2.0m high with a hollow in the centre.
Resurveyed at 1/2500. (4) Additional reference, field report (5)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

(Area ST 720702). “Two very small tumuli were removed from this spot. In one of them a small vase of black pottery was found”. (1)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Probable round barrow sites, of Prehistoric or Roman date, seen as cropmarks

A rapid examination of air photography (1a) suggests the presence of at least five probable round barrow sites, of Prehistoric or Roman date, visible as ring ditch cropmarks at:- ST 6763 6932, ST 6772 6923, ST 6779 6927 (possibly double-ditched), ST 6780 6932 and ST 6782 6935. (1)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

[ST 67806945] TUMULUS [O.E.]. (1)
ST 67806945, round barrow, 32 paces in diameter, 7 ft. high, visited 1st February, 1959. Flattish top. Under grass; no
visible ditch. (2)
The barrow consists of a low mound 1.0 m. high surmounted by a flat topped steep sided central tump, which is an additional 1.7 m. high. The periphery of the mound is very vague and there is no visible ditch. The barrow would seem to be between the bowl and bell types, although it may be simply a bowl barrow on a low natural mound with the berm produced by ploughing.
The published survey (25-inch, 1931) has been revised. (3)
Additional reference-field report (4)

Details of Barrow Group on Pastscape

A group of Bronze Age round barrows formerly stood on Marshfield Down. They were destroyed by a combination of bulldozing and excavation in the late 1940s. Finds from the barrows include Bronze Age pottery, cremations, amber beads, a bronze awl, a bronze dagger and part of another, a transverse arrowhead, two barbed and tanged arrowheads, and part of a Neolithic axe. One of the barrows was known as St Oswald’s Tump (this contained a cremation with the daggers) and may have been a disc barrow or a bowl barrow. It was traditionally associated with the martyrdom of St Oswald.

[CENTRED ST 7950 7450] TUMULI [G.T.] (Sites of) (1). [4 shown]
Tumuli [T.I.] (2). [7 shown] (1-2)
Round Barrows on Marshfield Down bulldozed in 1947:-
No. 1, ST 7941 7450
No. 2, ST 7943 7451
No. 3, ST 7946 7453 approx.
No. 4-4a, ST 7948 7454 approx. Excavated by Gettins 1947-9. The barrow had a retaining kerb and a presumably primary cremation with fragments of B.A. pottery.
No. 5, ST 7951 7455 approx. Excavated by Gettins 1947-9. This barrow had a retaining kerb of dry stone walling and a primary
cremation with amber beads, bronze awl, etc.
No. 6, ST 7953 7457 approx. Excavated by Gettins 1947-9. This barrow was confluent with No. 5, the retaining kerbs overlapping. This barrow had a primary cremation with parts of an E/MBA collared urn and 3 or 4 secondary cremations.
No. 7, ST 7955 7447 St. Oswald’s Tump was probably a bell barrow. Bulldozing revealed a cist with bones (probably a cremation), a bronze dagger dateable to c. 1500-1370 B.C., and the tip of a second dagger.
Three faint mounds some 150 yards north-east of this group may also be barrows.
The finds from the group are in the Bristol City Museum. (3-6)
St. Oswald’s Ring, a circle of earth or oolitic rubble suggestive of a disc barrow, was situated near St. Oswald’s Tump, and was traditionally the place of martyrdom of St. Oswald. (7)
The area is under wheat. There is no sign of these barrows (which seem to have been destroyed by excavation) or of the faint mounds mentioned by Grinsell. (8)
The following flint implements were found with others in Gettins’ excavations:-
Barrow 4 (Gettins’ barrow III) A possible chisel / poorly made petit tranchet from the barrow mound. Barrow 6, A barbed and tanged arrowhead. Barrow 7 (Gettins’ barrow V) A barbed and tanged arrowhead found on the surface. A face fragment from a Neolithic axe found during Gettins’ excavations. (9-10)
Marshfield Barrow Cemetery-addtional reference-infomation as above (11)
A group of 7 or 8 barrows, now destroyed. (12)

Details of settlement site on Pastscape

Roman villa site excavated during the 1980s. Several phases uncovered beginning with a late Iron Age round houses and associated features. The round house appears to have been replaced in stone early in the Roman period, this structure being tentatively interpreted as a shrine. Later a substantial villa itself of several phases was built across the site, with various ancilliary buildings. An inhumation cemetery and a possible mortuary structure were also found. In 2001, aerial photos showed cropmarks of a ditched trackway and associated enclosures around the villa site.

ST 79857602: An important Roman site was discovered last September at Ironmongers’ Piece by the landowner Mr Charnaud and was initially fieldwalked by a team of BAARG members led by Rob Iles of Avon CC. Since May excavations have been in progress, directed by K and M Blockley, sponsored by Avon CC. Work to date has revealed the remains of an agricultural settlement occupied from C1 – C4. The main feature so far is a small Romanised farmhouse or villa of C4 or C3 facing east onto a courtyard. To the S. was a cemetery. (1-2)
ST 798760: Excavations at Ironmongers, 1982, revealed three phases of settlement. (See Illustration Card for plan)
Phase I – pre Roman: The earliest occupation was indicated by a single hut circle – A, ditches, and two gullies – G, H, both with late Iron Age pottery. Phase II – early Roman: A 1.6m drystone wall – B, was erected with an entrance flanked by 2 postern gates. The circular structure was rebuilt in masonry. No domestic fittings were found in this building but it contained two sheep skulls and six legs. Its function as a shrine seems likely. To the south an inhumation was found within a post-hole structure – E, possibly a mortuary enclosure. Also within this complex was a crouched baby burial.
Phase III – late Roman: During the C4 the boundary wall and circular building were demolished. A large rectilinear building – C, was built. This was a large farmhouse with at least 14 rooms. To the N. was a drystone circular building – D. To the E a drying-oven. To the S was a cemetery lying outside a wall. Twenty burials were excavated, mostly within stone-lined graves and dating from C4. (3-4) Full report on 1982-3 excvavations. (5) Additional references – information as above. (6-7)
In June 1985 a training excavation by Bristol University took place at Ironmongers Piece. The remains of a circular structure – ‘D’ of earlier reports – were examined and found to date not earlier than the late C2 or C3. (8-9)
Training excavations continued in 1986 with the object of elucidating a 5m long wall which in 1985 appeared to be the side of a building. No trace of any return walls could be found nor any floor. The wall may in fact be the remains of a yard or fold. No further excavation is planned at this site. (10)
AV 56 A villa constructed over circular buildings, excavated in 1982. (11)
Aerial photographs taken in June 2001 showed a numebr of cropmark features in an adjacent to the field containing the above excavated structures. The excavated area itself does not show any cropmarks, making it difficult to clearly relate the cropmarks to the structures excavated. In addition, there are a number of cropmarks produced by geological features and some which may be archaeological or geological. The main feature is a broadly east-west trackway defined by roughly parallel ditches up to 10 metres apart, but narrowing noticeably towards the east, where it turns towards the southeast, possibly meeting another trackway running down from the north – the present field boundary obscures this area. Circa two-thirds of the way along its visible length, a branch of the ditched trackway also turns north towards the area of the excavated villa buildings, which appear to have been contained within a square or rectangular ditched enclosure, which itself may have been situated within the northeast corner of a much larger enclosure. A number of large dark cropmarks in the vicinity possibly represent relatively recent quarry pits. However, one or two within the cropmark complex may be associated settlement features such as wells. (12)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

ST 81487158 A ‘tumulus, very flat’, noted by Crawford (1) is not listed by Grinsell in VCH, Wilts, 1,1957, though he comments elsewhere that it is in an aircraft dispersal area. (1-2)
No trace. The area is overlaid with roadways and buildings of the airfield. (3)

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[Centred ST 83267435] CROSS-DYKE [GT]. (1)
A single bank with ditch to east extending for 450 yards N-S, with an angular turn at the middle, and ending in woods on the valley sides. It is under grass. [Mellor & Grinsell both refer to Aubrey’s 17th c. description]. (2-4)
The earthwork extends from ST 83177445 to ST 83267436, where it turns NW and thence to ST 83237422; a small gap near the South end is caused by a modern trackway. The southern half consists of an east facing scarp with a berm to the west; the remainder is a bank with ditch to the east. A low bank from ST 83187447-ST 83117451 indicates a further northward extension of the earthwork. Surveyed at 1/2500. (5)
The southern portion of the earthwork from ST83237422 to ST 83257430, is in good condition, elsewhere it now forms a
field boundary and has been ploughed along its W facing margins. 1:2500 Survey transferred to PFD. (6)

Details of site on Pastscape

Bowl barrow and 2 other possible bowl barrows. Romano British pottery and coins have been found on the site Scheduled..

‘A’: ST 83547323; ‘B’: ST 83537321; ‘C’: ST 83527322 Tumuli (NR). (1)
Some time before 1945 A S Mellor visited and identified as Bronze Age a group of 3 circular mounds in Colerne Park. He also tried, unsuccessfully, to locate a “Roman camp” mentioned here by Aubrey in the 17th century.
In about 1945 W J Dowding (of Slaughterford Paper Mills) discovered Romano British sherds on the surface of the largest mound, known locally as “The Dane’s Tump”. He informed Mellor who revisited the site and found further Romano British sherds, was well as 2 bronze coins and bronze objects. Nothing was discovered on the other two mounds, but he did notice “many
irregularities in the surface of the ground near the site”. In 1953 Mellor excavated the smallest mound but found nothing apart from 2 pieces of a red pot, charcoal and blackened earth.
The ditch of the largest mound was trenched and a Romano British “heap” (64 ft by 20 ft) discovered. It contained quantities of Romano British pottery (including Terra Sigillata), glass, iron and bronze objects, 33 coins (of late 1st to early 5th century date) and building material.
The third mound was also trenched down to the original ground level and as far as the centre. No dateable material was found. (2)
(A) ST 83547325: Bowl barrow, 24 paces in diameter, 9 ft high and surrounded by a large deep ditch. The mound is flat topped.
(B) ST 83537321: Bowl barrow, 12 paces in diameter and 3 ft high.
(C) ST 83517321: Bowl barrow, 8 paces in diameter and 2 1/2 ft high. (3)
Mounds surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. (4)
Of the three mounds, that at ‘A’ ST 83547323 is an apparently undisturbed ditched bowl barrow, as described, (3) and in good condition, its tree-covered surface is devoid of Romano British pottery. Local enquiry failed to verify the name ‘Danes Tump’.
The mound at ‘B’ ST 83537321 is 0.8m high, ditchless, and shows signs of disturbance. Possibly a small bowl barrow.
At ‘C’ ST 83527322 is an irregularly-shaped ditchless mound 0.9m high, the slopes of which spill into the ditch of the large bowl barrow; it has been extensively dug-over. A very doubtful barrow.
An intensive search of the fresh ploughland surrounding these features failed to locate evidence of Roman building and/or domestic refuse. There seems to be a distinct possibility that these are not the mounds referred to by Mellor (2), and an association of this site with the Roman building (ST 87 SW 15) is unrealistic in view of the latters situation and distance away. 1:2500 survey transferred to PFD. (5)

Details of site on Pastscape

[ST 82257369] Stoney mound, possibly a tumulus. (1)
[Grinsell does not include this in his list of barrows – V.C.H., I, 1957] No mound is visible in this area. (2)
The field is now under plough. No change from previous field report of 8.11.67. (3)

Details of finds on Pastscape

Surface collections of Neolithic and Bronze Age flints from Bury Wood Camp, Lucknam Estate, and Colerne Down. Most are scrapers and cores, but some arrowheads and polished axe fragments are also present.

A collection of about 150 Ne. and B.A. flints, found by the late Dr. Shaw-Mellor, is in Devizes Museum. Most are scrapers and cores but some Ne. and B.A. arrowheads are included, also fragments of polished flint axes.
They are from three areas in Wilts. :
Bury Wood Camp ST 8173,
Lucknam Estate ST 8172,
and Colerne Down ST 8173. (1)

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A large Iron Age multivallate hillfort located on a promontory of Colerne Down. The enclosed area is sub-triangular with a slightly rounded hilltop of 9.2ha surrounded by a ditch 4 metres wide amd up to 1 metre deep, and an outer bank up to 1.5 metres high on the east and north western sides and up to 2 metres high on the south western side, across the neck of the promontory. On the south western side, where there are no natural defences, there is a further ditch 4 metres wide and 1 metre deep and an outer bank up to 2 metres high and 3 metres wide. At the north eastern corner the inner bank turns inwards to form a funnel shaped entrance. Another entrance about a quarter of the way along the north western side also consists of inward turning ramparts forming a funnel shaped entrance. A small enclosure within the camp is visible on aerial photographs. Flint artefacts including scrapers, cores and flakes have been found within the camp as well as fragments of querns and a sarsen artefact. Scheduled.

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A sham megalith, built 1859-9 as boundary marker

[ST 79607002] Three Shire Stones [TI]. (1)
The Three Shire Stones form a conspicuous sham-megalith of three rough-hewn oolite slabs supporting a large cap-stone and built round an earlier group of small dressed stones each of which is inscribed with the date 1736 and the initial letter of the appropriate county. A number of authorities (bibliography given) have suggested that the present structure incorporates re-used stones from some ruined chambered tomb in the vicinity. However, a printed circular, dated 1858 (a) appeals for money to assist in the completion of the ‘Cromlech’ ad describes how the junction of the three counties had been previously marked by ordinary ‘mere-stones’ and the new stones, quarried for the purpose, had been set up over the old stones. In digging the hole for the upright stone on the Gloucestershire side three skeletons and a coin of James II were found. The project was completed in February, 1859. (2)
The megalith is an entirely modern feature. (3)

Details of stone on Pastscape

[Marginal] A cup and ring marked stone was discovered in 1938 by H.J. Stickland on the edge of the moors above Braisty Woods Farm. It is now in the Leeds Museum and dated to the M.B.A. (1-2)
The site of this stone at SE 20556374, was indicated to C.E.Hartley (Hon. Corr.) by the finder. It is no longer in Leeds Museum, and is presumed to have been lost as a result of bomb damage during the war. (3)

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(SE 212642) Supposed (NAT) Tumuli (NR) (1)
Two cairns, forming part of a group on Graffa Plains: one, 12 ft. in diameter and situated about 150 yards north west of the first large group of rocks upon the south east boundary of Brimham Moor, and about 50 yards southeast of the trackway leading to ‘Riva Hill Farm’; the other cairn 9ft. in diameter and 100 yards south west of the first. Both excavated in 1908 by A. L. Armstrong. Nothing was found except ‘black earth’ and charcoal suggesting cremations and two shaped sandstone blocks, possibly grain rubbers. (2)
The indicated area is on the edge of an extensive moorland region thickly covered with outcropping rock and natural hillocks. A thorough ground inspection revealed no evidence of any cairns. (3)

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Univallate fort on Hinton Hill. Field investigations in 1969 found the east side to be defined by a rampart with an outer ditch, with an entrance in the centre of the east side.

[Centred at: ST 7415 7672] CAMP [O.E.]. (1)
Dyrham Camp – “This occupies a projecting point of Hinton Hill ... It was defended by a single mound and ditch running on a curved line, with each end resting on the escarpment, thus protecting an area of about 18 acres. On the south side, the slope of the hill has been arificially ‘scarped’ and on the east side a portion of the entrenchment is still very stong. A modern road runs through the camp ...” (2)
“Dyrham Camp” – Scheduled. (3)
Dyrham Camp is a promontory fort in asmuch that the end of the spur is isolated by the eastern rampart and outer ditch. The entrance was presumably at the point utilized by the present road. The southern side of the spur has been scarped but the steepness of this side requires little artificial defence and the scarping may be associated with the local field system. The northern side of the spur is a gentle slope which affords little natural defence, but there are numerous quarry diggings throughout this area and no trace of a rampart. Publised survey (25” 1919) revised. (4)
Univallate fort, unexcavated. The east side is defined by a rampart with an outer ditch, with an entrance in the centre of the east side. The unploughed south half of the rampart, about 35ft. wide, rises 8 ft. above the interior and 13 ft. above the bottom of the ditch, which is 20 ft. wide. (Visited 17.2.69). (5)
The fort is described as “Barhill Camp” on Isaac Taylor’s map 1786, and as “Burrills Camp” in the Tithe Awards of 1841. (6)
Additional reference – as above. Plan and profile (7)
ST 741 767. Hill-fort on Hinton Hill, univallate, unexcavated. Noted as being described as “Burrell’s Camp” in early references. [Additional details, plan and profile of rampart provided]. (8)

Monument No. 208153

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An Early Bronze Age flat bronze axe and a palstave from Bradford are both in Exeter Museum. It has been suggested that they may have been found together because both have similar pocked surfaces, although this is hardly the firmest of evidence.
An E/MBA flat bronze axe and a loopless palstave from Bradford have similar pocked surfaces and are probably associable. They are in Exeter Musuem. (1)

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[ST 8212 6115 and ST 8216 6113 (3)] (1)
In a field, known as Bed and Bolster field, Budbury, earthworks were visible and some in adjoining pieces of ground before they were levelled to make gardens (2). G. Underwood made hasty excavations in earthworks at Budbury before they were wrecked by a housing scheme. He identified two barrows within a circular enclosure formed by a bank with an inner ditch. [Sited from plan] E.B.A. sherds were recovered and a skeleton found but not removed. Bed and Bolster field contained an arc of another bank, 100 feet SE of the first circle. Grinsell lists them as undated earthworks and also as barrows and suggests an EBA primary inhumation in the larger mound. A fragment of a mound, at ST 8212 6115 is visible on A.Ps. (2-4)
No earthworks are visible in this area of extensive modern development. (5)

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Earthwork remains of a sub-rectangular enclosure, date and purpose uncertain.

[Area : ST 847 605] A circular earthwork in Great Bradford Wood lies near the middle of the wood and is crossed by a ride. It has a diameter of 170 feet and the bank and ditch are 25 feet wide. The earthwork may be associable with a local custom of allowing the public to enter the wood on Good Friday. (1)
The earthwork, sub-rectangular in plan and cut from NW to SE by a ride, is situated on generally level ground at ST 8457 6051. To the north of the ride it consists, of a ditch with an inner and outer bank but to the south there is no trace of the inner bank. There is a square depression in the NE corner, (a hut or building site?).
No original entrance is visible and it has therefore probably been utilised by the ride. It is certainly of some antiquity though date and purpose are rather obscure. Very unlikely to be associated with any local festival. Surveyed at 1/2500. (2)

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Probable double round barrow site, of Prehistoric or Roman date, seen as a cropmark.

ST 8573 6291 (FCE) A rapid examination of air photography (1a) suggests the presence of a probable double round barrow site, of Prehistoric or Roman date, visible as possibly two joined ring ditch cropmarks southwest of Great Chalfield. (1)

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(ST 82356893) Ditched mound visible on air-photographs. (1)
At ST 82366894 is a circular mound 0 6m. high with a ditch 0.2m. deep except on the SE where it is partly overlaid by a modern track. The mound is on a narrow shelf in a pasture field which otherwise slopes to the SE. There are traces of prob. Md. and later lynchetting in the field which do not encroach on the mound. The field name “Conygre” seems to be of minor significance. Surveyed at 1/2500. (2)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

(ST 87047379). Tumulus. (NR). (1) Tumulus. (NR). (Site of.) (NAT.)
Adjoining copse called Bushy Barrow. (2)
A tumulus was not visible to Crawford in 1932; ‘only a flattish platform as for a house’, at the site marked. (3)
There were irregularities in the next field to the south. Passmore could find nothing in 1952.(4) Grinsell lists it as Bushy Barrow, under Biddestone, as a bowl barrow, 8 paces in diameter and 6 inches high; but gives it, in error, the N.G.R. of the castle mound in Corsham (ST 87 SE 4). (3-5)
There are now no remains of this barrow. Its site, just off the crest of a hill, is represented by a level area which suggests that the mound was deliberately removed. Hedging ditches cut into the fringes of the mound shown on the OS 25‘
(pre 1932). No significant features were noted in fields to the south. (4)
Published detail amended on OS 25’ for AO records. (6)

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SOURCE TEXT
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( 1) General reference O.S. 25”.
( 2) General reference O.S. 6”.1955.
( 3) General reference Rec. 6” (O.G.S.Crawford.) (4.2.32.)
( 4) General reference Letter. (A.D.Passmore.) (30.12.52)
( 5) General reference V.C.H. Wilts., 1.1957.157. (L.V.Grinsell.)
( 6) Field Investigators Comments F1 MJF 27-APR-76

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A vertical fissure in a cliff found in 1922 by Captain Guy St Barbe, which had originally formed part of a large cave, the latter largely destroyed by quarrying. Human and animal bones were found, some given to Devizes Museum. In 1925 excavations were undertaken by the University of Bristol Speleological Society. Finds included charcoal, burnt bones, Iron Age pottery, a chalk bead, some flints, and the remains of four adults and three children. During Ordnance Survey field investigation in 1976, the site was observed as a conspicuous feature in the now abandoned and weathered quarry face. Part of the natural cave remained visible at the the base of the cliff, although the area had become a rubbish dump.

ST 84507371 Guy’s Rift, a 75 feet long, 2 feet wide, vertical fissure in an oolite cliff was found by Capt. Guy St. Barbe, in 1922. It has formed part of a large cave which had been destroyed in the probably Md.quarrying of the cliffe. The site was formerly known as Cloud Quarry but the name is not now used (Detailed siting relevant to old OS 6” given). Human and animal bones were found (some casually by boys though the majority were recovered for Devizes Museum). In 1925 the rift was excavated; finds included charcoal, from a hearth in an occupation layer, burnt bones IA ‘A’ potsherds, a chalk bead, flint fragments, including a blade (similar flints are found in the fields above the cliff) and the remains of four adults and three children. (1-4) As described. Surveyed at 1:2500. (5)
Guy’s Rift (name unverified) remains a conspicuous feature in the now abandoned and weathered quarry-face See Photograph. Part of a natural cave remains visible at the cliff base; this area has now become a rubbish dump.
No surface finds were made in the plough fields above the cliff. (6)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

[ST 8139 6777] TUMULUS [G.T.] (1)
A bowl barrow, 17 paces in diameter and a foot high, was excavated by A. Shaw-Mellor in 1934 (identified with published site by Grinsell). The excavation was unsatisfactory, but finds included calcined bones and charcoal, on and about a large flat stone, and many fragments of bone and teeth from at least ten individuals. Potsherds included Ne ‘B’, M.B.A., and I.A. ‘A’ or ‘B’ sherds. A primary MBA cremation with intrusive inhumations is suggested by Grinsell but he also suggests “IA human sacrifices” for which there seems little evidence. The finds are in Mellor’s private collection. (2-4)
[ST 81376777] This is a bowl barrow 0.5m. high. Shaw-Mellor is dead and his collection is in Devizes Museum. (5)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

(’A’: ST81356797; ‘B’: ST 81316738). (1)
Tumulus (GT) (Twice) (Not on OS 6” 1923, but ‘A’ shown as clump of trees named Totney Firs).
Totney Firs is surrounded by a tree ring apparently marked as a barrow by the O.S. (No mention of ‘B’ on (2), or of either in V.C.H. Wilts, 1, 1957). (2)
There is no trace of a barrow in the area of Totney Firs which is a tree-ring ‘B’ is a bowl barrow 0.8m. high, at ST81296738. Surveyed at 1/2500. (3)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Three barrows, either Bronze Age bowl barrows or possibly Roman. By 1967 two of the barrows had been damaged by the construction of a covered reservoir. They are belived to survive beneath the spoil from the reservoir. The third barrow lies to the north east. It is 20 metres in diameter and 2.5 metres high. The surounding ditch survives in places up to 5 metres wide and 0.5 metres high. To the north west the ditch extends at a tangent to the barrow in a north easterly direction for 2 metres. There is a local tradition that three knights are buried in the barrows. Scheduled.

[ST 8334 6729; ST 8333 6726; ST 8332 6723] TUMULI [GT] [Two shown] (1) TUMULI [GT] [Three shown] (2).
Three bowl-barrows, 20-28 paces in diameter, 5-8 feet high, covered with trees and undergrowth, are described by Grinsell, who queries whether they are BA or Roman(3). There is a local tradition of ‘three Kings’ buried here(2). A 1956 description refers only to two flat-topped mounds, both 12 feet high, one with an irregular ditch, averaging a foot deep. The other was partly obscured by spoil from a reservoir which had been constructed on the site of a third barrow(4). (3-5)
Only one barrow can be identified, that surveyed at 1/2500 at ST 8334 6729. It is 2.5m. high and is surrounded by a ditch 1.0m. deep. The other two barrows are beneath the reservoir and its spoil and are shown as sites at ST 8331 6723 and ST 8332 6725 on the O.S.25”. (6)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

[ST 8084 6638] TUMULUS [OE]. (1)
A bowl barrow, at Kingsdown Plantation, 25 paces in diameter and 2 1/2 feet high (2) on arable converted to grass, 1951. It is mentioned in a report on the Roman road (RR 53) by Hoare, in 1819, as a barrow ‘not very high but of considerable circumference’. (2-3)
This is a bowl barrow 0.8m high. Surveyed at 1/2500. (4)

Details of Barrow on Pastscape

ST 79696305 – An oval-shaped bowl barrow, known as Jug’s Grave. It is 27 by 21 paces and 4 feet high. There are slight indications of a ditch on the south and west. Excavations by G. Underwood, 1946/7, revealed a primary interment of two skeletons in a stone cist accompanied by four EBA flint arrowheads, probable Beaker sherds, a gold ‘sun disc’ ornament and a fragment of bone ring. Four secondary inhumation-burials were found in the north part of the mound and other finds included a few flint flakes and scrapers and part of an hour-glass perforated stone mace. Three banks of the field system (ST 86 SW 1) impinge on the mound. Jug’s Grave at ST 79686305, is a cairn 1.4 metres high, extensively mutilated in the centre and N.W. where large quantities of stone have been removed. No indications of the ditch could be seen.

S.E. of Jug’s Grave at approximately ST.79796298, are two smaller cairns each 0.5 metres high. They may be field clearance heaps, but this seems unlikely as in the surrounding field system (ST 86 SW 1) the boundary banks are composed of stone and this would seem the obvious place to dispose of any surplus stone, nor are any other heaps of stone visible in the area. They may therefore be burial cairns. Both contain depressions in their centres where stone has been removed.
Sherds of a Bell Beaker from Jug’s Grave are in Bristol Museum, Acc. No. F. 3594, and the ‘sun-disc’ is in the posession of Capt. Whitehead, Inwoods, Farleigh Wick. Surveyed at 1/2500

Details of Causewayed Enclosure on Pastscape

Crop marks of a possible Neolithic causewayed enclosure located within a field in a slight bend of the Broadmead Brook. The site was discovered by RCHME in 1990, and the visible features transcribed and analysed in 1995 as part of the Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic Project. See the archive report for full details. The enclosure appears to be rectangular in shape, roughly symmetrical with three convex sides, one straight side and rounded corners. It comprises a single circuit of interrupted ditches. The southwest portion of the enclosure is not visible, this portion falling in a neighbouring field. Within the enclosure are traces of numerous pits of varying shape and size. Other cropmark features in the vicinity consist of possible Iron Age or Roman settlement traces to the north of the causewayed enclosure.

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

A long barrow, known as Lugbury(s) (2) 180-200 (6) by 90-80 (6) feet, and 6 feet high mound, reduced by ploughing, orientated east – west with a false entrance at the east end; and in the eastern half of the south side, four closed chambers or cists. Crawford suggested that there were passages to the chambers from the edge of the barrow but Daniel thought this unlikely.
Excavated by Colt Hoare in 1821 who found a contracted inhumation at ground level. Completely re-excavated by Scrope (report by Thuman) in 1854/5 who found three chambers which contained multiple burials of adults and children of both sexes: all dolichocephalic types. Also an empty chamber – probably rifled. Some flint flakes and a probable scraper were found. (2-7)
This long barrow, although scheduled, has been so spread by ploughing that the side ditches are now overlain by material from the mound. Surveyed at 1/2500. (8)
‘Lugbury’ (name unverified) long barrow survives as a grass-covered mound now reduced by ploughing to a rectangular form, 57.0m, E-W by 20.0m N-S and up to 1.4m high. Plough spread soil from the mound has obscured all trace of side ditches. At the E end the false portal is represented by two upright megaliths about 3.0m apart (the northern stone is 1.7m high by 1.3m wide by 0.3m thick; the southern 1.9m high by 1.3m wide by 0.9m thick) against the W side of which leans a great slab 3.2m long by 2.1m wide by 0.3m thick, set on edge N-S. These megaliths are at present obscured by dense bramble.
Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. (9)

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

ST 78087791. Long barrow 135 feet long by 60 feet wide by 6 1/2 feet high, aligned NE/SW. It is shown as two round barrows on the OS 6” map, but the balance of evidence is in favour of a long barrow. (2)
Long barrow discovered by Passmore in 1939; rectangular with square ends and rounded corners and no sign of side ditches. The NE end is less well-preserved than the remainder, being in another field which is under the plough. At the SW corner is a small outwork almost touching the barrow. (3)
This is a long barrow. The description above is correct except that the mound does not have squared ends and there is no trace of the “outwork”. It is unlikely that this was in any way connected with the barrow. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (4)
No change since report of 3 7 62. (5)

Details of Fox Covert 2 Barrow on Pastscape

Bronze Age bowl barrow 35m in diameter and 0.5m high. Scheduled.
ST 78487817 A round barrow, 25 paces in diameter and a foot high, apparently on an ancient field boundary (ST 77 NE 4) Found by Grinsell, 1949. (1)
This is a bowl barrow 0.6m high at ST 78417813. There is no trace of the field boundary. Surveyed at 1/2500. (2)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape

Two Bronze Age bowl barrow one was reported in 1949 but is now no longer visible. The other survives as an earthwork 29.1m in diameter and 1m high. Scheduled.

(’A’: ST 78657770) Tumulus (GT) (1)
(’A’) A round or bowl barrows, 17 paces in diameter and 3 1/2 feet high, with a central mutilation.
(’B’) ST 78657777: A round barrow, 8 paces in diameter and 9 inches high, apparently on an ancient field boundary (ST 77 NE 4). Found by Grinsell, 1949. (2-3)
(A) – as described. Survey revised.
‘B’ – not visible. (4)
‘A’ – No change
‘B’ The field boundary is clearly visible but the barrow cannot be located. (5)

It was one of those long barrows, which we meet with occasionally, having a kistvaen of stones within it, to protect the place of interment. Four large stones of a superior size and height to the rest, were placed before the entrance to the adit, two on each side ; these now lie prostrate on the ground : one of these measures ten and another eleven feet in height ; they are rude and unhewn, like those at Abury. A line of stones, though of much smaller proportions, encircled the head of the barrow, of which I noticed four standing in their original position ; the corresponding four on the opposite side have been displaced. The stones which formed the adit or avenue still remain, as well as the large incumbent stone which covered the kistvaen, and which measures ten feet by nine.

Sir Richard Colt Hoare – Ancient Wilts., ii, 47, 1821