Chance

Details of site on Pastscape

A Late Bronze Age complex of post alignments comprising around 950 posts discovered as part of excavation and evaluation ahead of quarrying at Barleycroft Farm. The posts roughly followed east-west and north-south axes, in 9 distinct lines. Although the posts have no absolute date, the absence of any Iron Age finds in the vicinity at the time of investigation has been interpreted as indicative that the posts are contemporary with Bronze Age fieldsystems on the same site. There was a distinct paucity of finds, which amounted to only a small number of burnt human skull fragments in one of the post holes of line 2. The post alignments are unusual as they do not appear to be enclosure lines and the lack of deposited finds would suggest it is not a purely ‘ritual’ site, or associated with domestic use. Also found on the site were very slight traces of two roundhouses of general Bronze Age date, as well as a pit cluster from the Early Neolithic to Early Bronze Age and pits contemporary with the post alignments. The alignments are located between two other Bronze Age sites; ring ditches and a cremation cemetery to the west and the ‘Over Barrow Group’ to the east across the river, and it has been inferred that the post alignments were constructed to link the two sites together.

Details of site on Pastscape

Flag Fen is the site of a major Bronze Age wetland site. The site comprises a raised timber walkway of 1km long leading to a platform of around 3.5 acres in area. Associated with the post alignment are discrete deposits of ceramics and metalwork that shows evidence of deliberate damage, indicating ritual use of the site. Some artefacts may have been made specifically for water deposition whereas other examples, especially of pottery, appear to be genereal domestic wares. There is some suspicion that some of the metal artefacts date to the Iron Age and are associated with later relationships between the site and people from the surrounding area. The platform has been radiocarbon dated to between 1000 and 660BC, within the Late Bronze Age. The post alignment has been assigned a date of use from between 1300 and 900 BC from dendrochronology which would suggest that it is slightly earlier than the platform, although there is some overlap in the date ranges.

Nearby are the remains of Early Bronze Age field systems which went out of use in the early first millenium BC, around the same time as the construction of the platform. It is thought that the field systems are indicative of a settlement on the edge of the fen, also inferred by faunal remains and the domestic pottery finds.

The site is now operated as an open air museum with a visitor centre.

English Heritage. 2012. ‘English Heritage: The National Heritage List for England’, https://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1406460 [Accessed 27-MAR-2012]

Details of stone on Pastscape

[Area centred ST 41805400] Standing Stone in this field Not located. (1)
Mile & half S. of Shute Shelve and a mile due east of Lower Weare, in the fourth field from the highroad to Bridgewater, on the right bank of the Cheddar Water: the stone stands in a slight hollow. No longer upright, its longer side is 2’6” above ground x 18” below x 9” thick. Too small for a rubbing post, it may have been set up as a boundary mark. (2-3)
The stone cannot be located. It may have been removed or overlaid by material dredged from the River Yeo. (4)

Details of cave on Pastscape

A cave located on the hillside above Axbridge, dug into in 1952 during a search for a chamber found previously by ochre miners. While reopening a mineshaft, bones were noted. Subsequent archaeological excavations 1953-5 recorded late Pleistocene faunal remains including rhino, wolf, hyaena and bear.

Details of site on Pastscape

During excavations in 1954-57 at Hole Ground, Wookey Hole, foundations of a 1st century hut site were seen. Over these were Roman foundations of modest buildings, dating from the 1st century to the late 4th century with apparently continuous occupation. The earliest occupation was indicated by an oval hut site bounded by a bank and ditch, which produced 1st century AD Iron Age pottery. A second occupation layer produced 2nd and 3rd century pottery and evidence of a building. Finally, just below the surface, substantial wall foundations with two or three courses still in position were found. Fourth century sherds, bones and several bronze coins, the latest of Valens (AD 364-378), were also uncovered in this layer. Seven complete or part skeletons of child burials were found; probable fourth century minor finds of bronze, iron and bone were also scattered around the site. Hearths with semi-melted lead ore were uncovered.

Details of Rhinoceros Hole cave on Pastscape

A small cave immediately adjacent to the Hyena Den (ST 54 NW 18), one of a small group of Pleistocene cave sites in the Wookey Hole ravine. A small-scale excavation was undertaken circa 1900 by HE Balch, and more extensive investigation occurred between 1970 and 1976. No material survives from Balch’s work, though records suggest that bones of rhinocerous, horse and hyena were present. The bulk of the sediments within the cave were removed during the 1970s excavations, uncovering a thick sequence of Devensian sediments with associated fauna and artefacts. The artefacts in particular seem to confirm two phases of cave use, the principal finds comprising a Middle Palaeolithic handaxe plus 3 handaxe trimming flakes, and a retouched blade of probable early Upper Palaeolithic date.

Details of Beaker Cave rock shelter on Pastscape

A rock shelter containing Beaker-associated material was excavated in 1931 by HE Balch. The finds are in Wells Museum. Jackson (in Cullingford 1962) states that the discoveries were made in 1953, while Barrington and Stanton attribute the Beaker finds to 1931 and refer to further work in 1951. Finds included a skeleton and the remains of three other individuals, associated with a large Beaker sherd and a floor of limestone flagstones. The sherd and bones are in Wookey Hole Museum.

Details of Cave on Pastscape

Wookey Hole Cave represents the upper course of the River Axe, and has been extensively developed in the 19th and 20th centuries as a show cave. Originally, the cave comprised a small entrance way and a tunnel circa 85 metres in length, which led to four chambers. Three of these are partly occupied by the River Axe. The fourth is submerged, but was examined in the 1970s. The cave has been excavated on a number of occasions. Casual finds were made by Buckland during visits in the 1820s. William Boyd Dawkins conducted an investigations of sorts in the later 19th century. HE Balch intermittently undertook excavations during the first half of the 20th century, and some minor excavation has occurred as recently as the 1970s. The bulk of finds belong to the Iron Age and Roman periods. Finds include pottery, Iron Age and Roman coins (including a possible hoard), and numerous other objects including an ear ring, finger rings, a spoon, an ear scoop, spindle whorls and so on. A considerable quantity of human remains have also been recovered, including a cemetery of Romano-British date excavated in the 4th chamber in 1973-7. At least 28 individuals were present in the cemetery, accompanied by pottery, coins and other items. Investigation of the river bed in 1947-9 by divers produced Romano-British bowls and lead ewers, part of an 11th-12th century cooking pot, and two late 17th century glass bottles.

Details of rock shelter on Pastscape

A rock shelter extending about 12 feet back into the cliff face. Excavations circa 1955-6 recovered the bones of at least nine individuals which have been regarded as being of Romano-British date because of their apparent association with Romano-British potsherds. However, Branigan and Dearne argue that there is no evidence to support this dating, and suggest that the Bronze Age is more appropriate. They make no mention of the pottery. Two chert blades have been described as Upper Palaeolithic, having been found in a “typical Pleistocene red earth deposit”. However, a later date may be equally plausible. The cave’s name relates to the discovery of a later Bronze Age gold bracelet in December 1955. The precise circumstances of its discovery are uncertain. An Inquest Jury decided that the bracelet was not treasure trove, and the bracelet was subsequently retained by the then landowner, the late Wing Commander GW Hodgkinson. A replica is at Wookey Hole Museum. Presumably it is this bracelet which suggested to Branigan and Dearne a Bronze Age date for the human remains?

Details of Hyena Den cave on Pastscape

A wide low arch on the east side of the Wookey Hole ravine. The cave was originally discovered circa 1852 by workmen cutting a water channel for nearby mills. At the time, a coin hoard; consisting of silver coins of Allectus (AD 293-6) and Commodus (AD 180-92) were distributed among the workmen and ‘third brass’ coins, of Constantius II, (AD 337-61) Valentinian I (AD 364-75) and Valens (AD 364-78); probably deposited in the late 4th century AD and comprising several hundred Roman coins, mainly silver, in a broken pot was found, as was a “bone bed” featuring remains of woolly rhinocerous, hyaena and other Pleistocene mammals. Some human skeletal material was also claimed to have been found, but this has never been confirmed. William Boyd Dawkins undertook excavations from 1859 until at least 1874, uncovering further animal remains as well as Paleaolithic flint and chert implements, this representing an early demonstration of the contemporaneity of extinct fauna and human activity. Further digging occurred intermittently throughout the later 19th century and beyond. The University of Bristol Speleological Society excavated at the cave between 1966 and 1970, encountering mainly disturbed deposits, but no artefacts. Trenching by the British Museum in 1992 located some undisturbed deposits, with finds including the debris from Middle Palaeolithic tool manufacture, further animal remains, and a substantial deposit of Pleistocene fish remains.

Details of Sun Hole cave on Pastscape

[ST 4671 5404] SUN HOLE [G.T.]. (1) Cave, 120’ up the cliff, vertically over the car park, excavations 1927 and 1951/3 revealed Roman coins (AD 273-345) and pottery, a few I.A. sherds; B.A., flints and pottery (inc. a globular urn); leaf-shaped arrowhead, Ne. pottery spoon and pottery, and a hearth in a Beaker/NE. A. horizon associated with human remains. This overlaid a Pleistocene deposit which contained faunal remains and a few flint implements of typically late Creswellian facies. Finds in U.B.S.S. mus. (2-5) Sun Hole is in the cliff face on the northern side of the Gorge at ST 46735408. Positioned at 1:2500. (6) The radiocarbon date of the Upper Palaeolithic at Sun Hole is c.10428 BC. (7) Additional references. (8-10)

Details of Sugar Loaf Slitter on Pastscape

[ST 46835414] Sugar Loaf Rock [T.I.] (1) Bones of Cave Lion, Cave Bear and Hyaena and possibly Rhinoceros found in a fissure behind Sugarloaf Rock. In Goughs Cave Musuem. (2) This fissure is known as Sugar loaf Slitter and is at ST 46905415. There seems to be no record of any human remains from this site. Positioned at 1:2500. (3)

Details of Sow’s Hole rock shelter on Pastscape

A rock shelter located at the foot of the cliff on the southern side of Cheddar Gorge. It is one of two, the other known as Pig’s Hole (ST 45 SE 2). There has been uncertainty in the past as to which is which. It has been decided, rather arbitrarily, that the smaller of the two, located at ST 47845455 should be known as Sow’s Hole. Excavations in 1930 apparently recovered Iron Age potsherds.

Details of Soldier’s Hole rock shelter on Pastscape

[ST 4690 5398] SOLDIERS’ HOLE [G.T.]. (1) Rock shelter, 150’ above the road. Excavated 1925-6 and later. R.B. pottery, a coin (copy of a third brass of Claudius ii), E.I.A. material, Ne. sherds and flints, including a partly polished flint axe were found in a disturbed top layer. The bottom two layers of the deposit contained flints of La Madeleine and Solutrian type. The faunal remains in these layers were late Pleistocene. Finds in Goughs Cavern Mus. Piggott lists a B.A. Globular urn from Soldiers Hole in Wells Museum. (2-6) Soldier’s Hole is at ST 4686 5400. In addition to the finds listed above a single looped socketted axe is displayed in the museum of Gough’s Cavern. Positioned at 1:2500. (7)

Details of Pig’s Hole rock shelters on Pastscape

[ST 47755453] Pig’s Hole’ [ST 47605452] Sow’s Hole; rock shelters containing derived material (silt, etc.). Sow’s Hole was explored by R.F. Parry in 1930 and a few shards of I.A. pottery were found. (1-2) These cave shelters are at the foot of the cliff as the southern side of the Gorge at ST 47705454 and ST 47845455. The present authorities on Cheddar caves – N.R. Barrington, Oak House, Axbridge; I.W. Stanton, “Iona”, Easton, Nr. Wells; (3a) and Prof. Tratman (1) – know that these are referred to as Pig’s and Sow’s Holes by Bolch (2), but they are uncertain as to which the names should be correctly applied. For convenience it has been arbitrarily accepted that the large cave shelter at ST 47705454 should be known as Pig’s Hole, and that the small overhang at ST 47845455 should be Sow’s Hole. (3)

Details of The Slitter and Long Hole Cave on Pastscape

[Name ST 467 538]Long Hole [T.I.]. (1) ST 4667 5389. The Slitter and Long Hole Cave. The former consisted originally of a steep scree slope (part destroyed when building the Cave Man Restaurant) leading up to long Hole Cave, alias ‘The Roman Cave’ some 150’ up in the cliff face.
R.B. occupation of Long Hole cave is attested by finds made by Gough, 1887/8 and subsequently in the Slitter below. These include human remains (of at least 15 individuals, aged 4-45), iron spears, pottery, etc. and coins of late Emperors’ ‘sealed together in little heaps’. Boon lists 376 coins dating from the 1st-4th cents. found here and in Goughs Old Cave, and comments that the Bronze coins making the Valentinian total, 284, probably came from a hoard.
A post A.D. 395 coin of Arcadius and a quasi-autonomous bronze of Rome, C. A.D.500, is included in the collection, now in the museum at Goughs Cavern. It is not possible to associate the coins specifically with either find spot. (C.F. ST 45 S.E. 10, Goughs Cavern).
Before 1934 the slitter deposit yielded a bronze palstave: The human remains from here were presented U.B.S.S. Museum, 1951. (1-5)
The entrance to the Long hole is at ST 46685387. The majority of the finds from this cave are displayed in the museum at Gough’s Cavern.
Positioned at 1:2500. (6) Additional reference. (7)

Details of Great Oons Hole on Pastscape

[ST 4675 5393] GREAT OONS HOLE [G.T.]. (1) 300’ above the road, an open hole. Ransacked, with no record of finds: but Upper pa. flints which may have come from this site, including a flint knife hafted to a bone handle, are in the Weston-super-Mare Museum. It also contains iron and bronze buckles, E.I.A. pottery and bone spindle whorls. (2-4) The entrance to Great Oons hole is at ST 4679 5393. Positioned at 1:2500. (5) Additional reference. (6) Natural cave, with modifications, used as operational base.Great Oone’s Cave – among trees on left bank at head of slope, 160 feet above coach park beside Cooper’s Hole which is 200 yards up Cheddar Gorge from Gough’s Cave on left bank at road level. (7)

Details of Gough’s Old Cave on Pastscape

Located a short distance west of the better known Gough’s (New) Cave (ST 45 SE 10), the cave was originally known as The Great Stalactite Cavern, and was on show from at least the late 18th century (when it may also have been inhabited). By 1877, the proprietor was Richard Cox Gough, whose name became associated with it. However, by the 1890s the cave had been eclipsed both as a public attraction and an archaeological site, by Gough’s New Cave. The cave clearly held a large accumulation of material, but much was removed during the 19th century with little record. The talus was removed without record in 1934. Sample excavation of what little remained in the way of cave deposits occurred between 1954-8, although the deposits proved to have been disturbed considerably. Finds included an assemblage of animal bones, including mammals and birds, from which 3 radiocarbon dates have been obtained, ranging from circa 12500 bp to 9300 bp. Iron Age and Romano-British pottery and quern fragments and features described as “hearths” were also found. Other Roman finds included a coin and a few bronze items.

Details of Flint Jack’s Cave rock shelter on Pastscape

ST 46355383 [Sic. probably 46355381] Flint Jack’s Cave: a rock shelter 50’ above the road. Explored 1893, many flint implements, upper Palaeolithic and possibly Creswellian, were found. Two skulls and bones were alledgedly found here: thought to be contemporary with the industry. Finds in the B.M.(British & Mediaeval, and Natural Hist.) and Weston-super-Mare Mus. (1-2) This cave is in the cliff face on the southern side of the Gorge, at ST 4632 5381. Positioned at 1:2500. (3)

Details of Cooper’s Hole cave on Pastscape

A cave with an entrance on the south side of the road through Cheddar Gorge. The front of the cave has been quarried back, and the interior contains substantial quantities of debris deposited during an episode of flooding in the late 1960s. Exploration in 1931-2 by RF Parry recovered Iron Age pottery from the cave and from the area of the car park immediately to the south, as well as the remains of domesticated and wild animals. One sheep bone with a hole bored through the middle was described as a “bobbin”. A female inhumation was also found in the car park area. In 1966 these finds were on display at the museum at Gough’s Cave (ST 45 SE 10). Explorations were also undertaken by the University of Bristol Speleaological Society in the late 1930s, and by several cavers subsequently, primarily in the belief that Cooper’s Hole may have led to a much larger cave system, although no evidence to support this idea has ever been found. In 1998 the cave was investigated by Channel 4’s Time Team. A flint implement and a deposit of animal bones, the latter below the stalagmite layer and thus potentially of very early, perhaps Palaeolithic, date had been found during cave exploration in the 1950s. Waterlogging prevented re-investigation of this deposit. However, a few sheep bones were found elsewhere within the cave system which have been suggested to be probably Prehistoric on the basis of probable cut marks made by a flint tool. A trench was also dug in the car park in front of the present cave entrance, but could not be taken down as far as the postulated Palaeolithic levels for safety reasons.

Details of Bone Hole cave on Pastscape

[Name ST 4820 547] Bone Hole [T.U.] (1) Bone Hole. Cave 30’ deep, human bones found include more than 12 skulls and fragments of others in a detritus of soft mud: but some were imbedded in stalactite. Also found were bones of bear, horse, wolf, boars and Bos; indicating a late period of occupation. (2-4)
The entrance to the Bone Hole is at the northern end of an open fissure at ST 48035472. Surveyed at 1:2500. (5)

Details of White Spot Cave on Pastscape

Cave, consisting of a lofty fissure. Painter tells of a tiny opening which only a boy could pass, within which, on a ledge, stood a little pot which fell to pieces when touched. (1) The pot seems to have been found in White Spot Cave. Its entrance is in the foot of the cliff a short distance up the Gorge from Priddy Hole Slitter at ST 47395442. Mr. C. Painter, the son of the late Mr. V. Painter, says that the pot was found about half way along the fissure, but he thinks that the ledge has been destroyed.

Details of Gough’s Cave on Pastscape

[ST 4666 5386] GOUGH’S CAVERN [G.T.] (Stalactite). (1) Excavations, 1903 and later, revealed an upper Paleolithic burial, hearths, bone and flint implements, a block of Baltic amber, two ‘Batons de Commandemant’ etc. The flints were of Creswellian type. The upper deposits contained E.I.A. & R.B. pottery. Goughs Old Cave, 30’ east of the above ST 4668 5388, excavated 1954-8. Much disturbed; but two hearths were found, one associated with Roman & I.A. ‘B’ pottery, and other with I.A. ‘A’. Fragments of several saddle querns were found unstratified, but parts of two upper stones were associated with the latter hearth. Finds in Goughs Cavern Museum, Weston-Super-Mare Museum, Taunton Mus, and Univ. Mus., Oxford. Roman coins, 1st-4th cent. and possibly later have been found, possibly here or at the Long Hole cave and slitter [ST 45 S.E. 9]. (2-5) The entrance to Gough’s Cavern is at ST 46705391, and the entrance to Gough’s Old Cave is at ST 46785389. Positioned at 1:2500. (6)
Two items of unusual interest from Gough’s Cave (the name which seems now to be adopted for ‘Gough’s Cavern’) are: (a). The skeleton known as ‘the Cheddar man’ which now has a radio carbon dated of 7130 BC approx, and is thought to be a deliberate interment of the very late Palaeolithic.(7). (b). A bone-point with grouped and purposeful-looking notches, which is thought to be some kind of tally or calculating device. (Good coloured illustration). (7-8) Excavations in 1927. (9) Excavations from 1928-1931. (10) Rescue excavation, 1968. (11) Additional references (12-13) Gough’s Old Cave – its history. (14)
Late Palaeolithic exploration of horse and red deer at Gough’s Cave. (15) Bird remains. (16) Human bones. (17) The remains of 2 children and at least 3 adults were found at Gough’s Cave in April-July 1987, during excavations by Lancaster University and the London National History Museum. Possible signs of cannibalism were evident, and a fine collection of artifacts. (18) Additional references. (19-23) The block of amber from Gough’s Cave is one of only three certain amber finds of Mesolithic date from Britain, the other two sites being Starr Carr and Cresswell Crags. (24)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

(ST 52376546) Large bowl barrow 75ft diameter 3-4 ft high, apparently undisturbed, no berm or ditch visible. (1) Scheduled. (2)
Situated at ST 52396549. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3) Situated in the bottom of a shallow valley, currently under pasture, lies a well-preserved bowl barrow. It has an overall diameter of 23.0m and stands up to 1.3m high. there is no visible ditch. 1:2500 survey transferred to MSD. (4)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

ST 51786475; ST 51956480; ST 51946482; Tumuli [GT] [3 shown] (1) Four mounds are described by Tratman in 1925: T.28,29 [ST 51956480 and ST 51946482] are described as flat-topped tumuli; both surrounded by ditches which are confluent. The northernmost has been disturbed and the spoil thrown onto the second mound. The other mounds,T27 & 30 [ST 51786475 and ST 52106479 recorded as such in 1925, were described by Tratman as almost certainly recent mining-mounds in 1953. (2-3) T28 and T29, at ST 51966480 and ST 51956482, are twin bowl barrows with confluent ditches. Both appear to have been disturbed. Surveyed at 1:2500. The other features indicated by Tratman, T27 and T30, are not antiquities. (4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 5164 6484] Long Barrow [GT]. (1) A chambered long barrow – T 26 – on Felton Hill, is oriented slightly east of north. It measures 58 feet long and 43 feet wide, and is 4 feet high. The centre is depressed due to disturbance or a collapsed burial chamber. At the north end two stones probably mark one of the chambers. There is no trace of a surrounding ditch. In 1946 a number of large stones were thrown onto the mound. (2-4)
The feature described by Prof. Tratman is at ST 51626490. It is a disturbed, slightly oval, mound 1.0m high. It is difficult to differentiate between stones that have been dumped on its surface and those that are an integral part of its structure. A small earthfast slab set on edge at S.S.W. perimeter of the top of the mound appears to be an original feature, but it must be regarded as extremely doubtful evidence of a chamber.
The feature is probably a bowl barrow, but it could be windmill mound. It is certainly not a long barrow. Surveyed at 1:2500. (5)

Details of barrows on Pastscape

[Group centred ST 5065 6390] A group of at least six barrows is plotted by various authorities in this area (4), Four are described as simple bowl barrows, T 32-5, in 1925, and were from 40-65 feet in diameter and 1-3 feet high (1) A fifth barrow T 194, was described in the 1930s (3a), and a sixth, T 35A in 1934-5 (2), the latter as a soil-mark visible from the air only. All were gradually destroyed by ploughing and are reported as completely gone by 1946 (3). (1-4)
T32 has been completely destroyed. It was identified by Prof. Tratman when a trench for a telephone cable was cut through it, and sited to ST 5055 6391.
T33 is a bowl barrow which lies astride the hedge between two modern fields at ST 5074 6389. The western part of the mound has been spread by ploughing and is now 0.8m high. The east side has been completely destroyed.
T34 has been completely destroyed and its site cannot be identified on the ground. Prof. Tratman sites it to ST 5057 6386, and says that a large flat stone c. 4ft. square was formerly exposed in its centre.
T35, at ST 5076 6391, has been almost ploughed out but its site is marked by a very slight rise.
T35A is sited to ST 5092 6391 by Tratman but to ST 5083 6383 by Grinsell. Nothing is visible at Tratman’s siting but there is a low, circular, rise in a crop of kale in the position indicated by Grinsell.
T194, at ST 5061 6391, has been almost ploughed out, but its site is marked by a very low rise.
T33, 35, 35A and 194 surveyed at 1:2500. (5)

Details of Burial Chamber on Pastscape

[ST 5006 6439] Burial Chamber [GT]. (1) The Water-stone Dolmen, first described in 1896, comprises the collapsed chamber of a presumed long barrow. The mound was visible but with vague edges, in 1924. There are two fallen uprights with the remains of a third and the cover stone which contains a natural hollow and gives the feature its name. A number of large stones in the garden wall of Cornerpool Farm are said to have come from this site. (2-5)
There are now no traces of a mound and in all other respects the above description is correct. (See GP. AO/65/245/5) Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

[ST 4995 6360] Long Barrow [G.T.]. (1) A long barrow – T 31 – oriented E-W, and 154 feet long. The wider and higher end is at the east and is 45-50 feet wide and 3-3 1/2 feet high. Some large stones are visible and a hedge crosses the mound 20 feet from the west end. Both ends are rounded but there are no traces of a surrounding ditch. There is no local name for the barrow or the field. (2-3) This feature appears to be a long barrow, 1.4m high at the east end and 0.3m at the west. Its east end has been planted with trees and used as a dump for stones from field clearance. The rest of the mound has been spread by ploughing. No stones can be seen that appear to be an integral part of the structure. Surveyed at 1: 2,500. (4)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 5173 6374] A simple bowl barrow, T36, 72 feet in diameter and 2 1/2 feet high (1). This is said to be a traditional burying place and as recently as 1905 a horse was buried in it. (1-2)
This is a circular mound 0.7m high, at ST 5173 6375. There is a strong local tradition that horses were buried in it, but it is impossible to tell from the appearance of the mound whether it is completely modern or a re-utilised bowl barrow. Surveyed at 1:2500. (3)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 5122 6026] A small mound T 292, 33 feet in diameter and 3 feet high. (1) This mound, 1.1m high is situated at the western end of a narrow ridge, at ST 51236024. It is certainly artificial and is probably a bowl barrow. Surveyed at 1:2500. (2)
A Bronze Age round barrow, probably a bowl barrow, is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs. The site is centred on ST 5123 6024 and comprises a sub circular mound which measures 8 metres in diameter (4-5). Tumulus (NR). (3)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 76855969] Tumulus [O.E.] (1) A round barrow 0.9m. high in a pasture field. There is no trace of a ditch. Surveyed at 1/2500. (2)

Details of barrow on Pastscape

[ST 7709 5920] Tumulus [G.T.] (1) This barrow, 74 yds. in circumference and 4-5 ft. high is an O.S. trig. station and has been hollowed to ground level. There are four conifers in the hollow. Skinner calls it “Beacon Barrow”. Three Roman coins of Gallienus, Probus and Constantine were found when firs were planted on the barrow, they were shown to Skinner by Capt. Symonds. (2) Scheduled. (3) A ditchless barrow 1.2m high hollowed in the centre to a depth
of 1.0m. No ground evidence could be found to suggest that this was a beacon. Surveyed at 1/2500. (4)

Details of cists on Pastscape

Skinner notes 2 ruined cists, locally known as The Giants Graves, near the Wellow Brook at Twinhoe. Sites identified from his sketch (as at ST 75905943 and 76135953). (Skinner’s Journals 1819-20, BM Add MSS 33653, 33694, 33663, 33656. Rec 6” O G S Crawford 1927)

Details of Long Barrow on Pastscape

[ST 52056179] Fairy Toot [TI] Long Barrow [GT]. (1) Fairy Toot comprises the remains of a long barrow with transepted gallery. In 1788 it was 150 feet N-S and 75 feet E-W and 40 feet high. It was being destroyed for road metalling and T. Bere describes a port-hole stone which led to a gallery with several chambers containing skeletal remains. Only a single human cranium is now in Bristol City Museum. The bulk of the barrow was made of small white stones covered with 5-6 inches of soil. [See AO/62/302/6 for an 18th C. view of the barrow.] The barrow is now divided into two mounds, ten feet in diameter and four feet high; a cowshed occupies part of the site. (2-4) The most obvious remains of this long barrow is a small tree covered mound 2.5m high. This is composed of small limestone slabs and it would seem that the old lime kiln immediately to the south used stone from the barrow. To the north of the mound a crescentic scarp, maximum height 0.9m, almost certainly represents the northern extremity of the barrow. Surveyed at 1:2500 (See AO/65/237/2 for an 18th/19th century illustration of the gallery) (a). (5) References to a lost cave at Burrington, containing not less the 100 skeletons, possibly due to confusion in early sources with Fairy Toot long barrow, although there is no suggestion that as many as 100 skeletons were found here (6-7)
The aerial photographs of this area were examined as part of the Mendip Hills AONB project of the National Mapping Programme. No evidence for this site was seen on the available aerial photographs (8).

Details of hoard on Pastscape

[Area: ST 757710] An M/LBA hoard of many ornaments, weapons and implements was found in 1894 in making the conduit immediately due south of the Monkswood reservoir, St. Catherine at a height of 366 feet. Some of the objects were dispersed but the remainder are exhibited at the Pump Room Bath. A detailed description (3) and typological analysis (4) of the hoard show it to be one of a number of hoards with continental analogies. [Broken objects suggest a founder’s hoard.] Contents include whole or fragmentary quoit-headed pins, sickles, bracelets, torcs plus sickles, a spearhead, a knife and an awl. Also present was a small cone of thin sheet bronze plus two hollow conical terminals. (1-4) The majority of this hoard is in the Roman Baths Museum, Bath.

Details of barrows on Pastscape

A group of five round barrows in Tumpy Field, Charmy Down, were excavated before their destruction in 1940. Four of them were confluent forming a composite mound 150 ft. long. Barrow 3, the most westerly, contained a cremation, shale bead and ring of shale. Barrow 4, the third from the west and 5, between 3 and 4, each contained a cremation. Barrow 6 at the east end contained a probable cremation in a cist, several 3rd/4th cent. Roman coins and R.B. pottery, also some I.A or Saxon pottery and late Roman or post Roman secondary inhumations. Barrow 7 a few feet to S.E. was too badly damaged to assess.
A circular pit 8 ft. west of No. 3 produced Ne. A. pottery, flints suggesting a working floor, and animal bones. (1)

Details of site on Pastscape

[ST 75547033] Two barrows on Charmy Down, 1/4 mile E.S.E. of Hartley Farm, were excavated by M.O.W. (Mrs. A. Williams) in 1941. The site appeared as a low mound which proved to contain two separate, and apparently contemporary, Tumuli: (a small cairn to the north, and a composite, disturbed barrow to the south). Within the cairn was a Food Vessel cremation and a Beaker (Abercromby A.2) burial, Both barrows were destroyed in 1942. (1-2)

Details of settlement on Pastscape

[ST 76 70] Prior to 1940 an Iron Age field system covered the plateau of Charmy Down [see plan AO/55.57/32:34] Both lynchetted and walled enclosures were present indicating a mixed economy. (1) The field system can still be traced over most of the area indicated on Grimes plan. The banks and lynchets are up to 0.5m. high. ST 754697: Small rectangular fields on Charmy Down shown on AP. The fields, which were divided by low stony banks were probably of Iron Age or Roman date. The area was levelled for airfield construction during WWII (3)
An area of 4.5 ha was surveyed at the request of Wessex Water and Bath Archaeological Trust. The earthworks which are located at the northern end of Charmy Down and comprise elements of field system intergrated with a trackway and settlement features. Construction of an airfield on Charmy Down during the Second World War prompted salvage excavations by W F Grimes, which indicated a broad chronological range of archaeological activity which included extensive areas of prehistoric field system (1). Much of the extant archaeology was destroyed by the wartime building works, leaving only a narrow band of earthworks around the plateau periphery, including the area surveyed by RCHME. The survey is bounded to the N by the escarpment edge of the plateau, and to the S by the remains of Second World War shelters and the airfield perimeter track. The most prominent feature recorded is an embanked trackway, approximately 130m in length and aligned E-W. It is relatively well preserved, with the defining banks surviving to a height of 0.3m and up to 6m wide. To the N and S are a series of rectangular, embanked fields intergrated with the trackway. Similarities of dimensions and constructional techniques strongly suggest that the trackway and fields are broadly contemporary, although there are suggestions of alternatons which indicate a lengthy period of use with phases of sub-divisions and, perhaps, minor re-alignments. The form of the field system would, on analogy with other examples in southern England, suggest an origin sometime in the first millennium BA. Three main areas of potential settlement were noted, all of which appear to post date the initial laying out of the field system. Further isolated rectangular depressions may indicate the presence of further structures. Settlement ‘A’ is defined by a curvilinear bank, partly encompassing a former field corner and may be associated with the possible structure at ‘D’. Settlement ‘B’ is defined by an L-shaped bank with access from the main E trapezoidal enclosure at ‘C’, measures 20m by 16m, has an internal sub-division and may overlie the northernmost elements of the field system. Much of the surveyed area is overlain by ridge and furrow cultivation of medieval date, aligned N-S; the gaps between the furrows averaging 9m. At least one of the probable settlement areas (’B’), is overlain by the ridge and furrow, suggesting a prehistoric or Roman date. (4)
A rapid examination of air photography (5a) shows the field system on Charmy Down. (5)

Details of site on Pastscape Pastscape

[Area: ST 7933 6865] (1) A ‘sepulchre’ shown in an unpublished sketch by Aubrey, in the Bodleian Library, is a long barrow on Banner Down, Bath.(1-2)
There is no trace of a long barrow on Banner Down. (3) Aubrey describes two uprights supporting two capstones. The monument was broken circa 1655 but some remains were left in 1669. (4a)

Details of site on Pastscape

(Area ST 74116255) A ‘camp’ called Berwick, Berewyke, or Berewyck, adjoining Cottage Crescent and near Barrack Farm, was described in the early 19th century as surrounded by a strong ‘vallum’ (1) (2). More recent authorities (3) (4) (5) refer to scarping of the edge of the plateau and other traces of
the camp but too mutilated by stone quarrying to be identifiable with certainty.
The areas indicated by Phelps is now occupied by housing estates, playing fields and old quarry workings used as a dump. There are no recognisable remains of an earthwork.
Near the Wansdyke on the western part of Widcombe and Lyncombe parish “... is a lofty eminence, called the Barracks, on which are several tumuli. Underneath the hill stood the ancient village of Berewyke, or Berwick, where according to tradition was a church, the site of which was near the only remaining house, called Barracks Farm. The tithes of this place belonged to the vicar of St Mary de Stall in Bath” (ST 76 SW : 35).
A possible multivallate contour fort set on the plateua of Odd Down. The area is now occupied by a factory and playing fields, and there are no certain traces of earthworks of hillfort type. Visited 16.4.73

Details of Hillfort on Pastscape Pastscape

(ST 58205850) Camp (GT). (1) A promontory-type hill-fort with double defences on the east. Both the inner and outer banks are mainly of stone, with indications of walling. The original entrance was probably on the east. (2-3) Surveyed at 1:2500. (4)

Burledge Hill-fort is at the end of a spur and is univallate except at the E. end where there is an additional rampart. The N. side has been largely obliterated by quarrying, which has also caused a scarp connecting the inner and outer ramparts. The original entrance is on the W., with modern gaps in the E.and S. sides. In 1955 test cuttings in the platform within the hill fort produced post-holes, pits, possible paving, gullies and a ditch. Pieces of iron slag with clay adherent suggested a local iron smelting furnace. Pottery of the second Phase I.A. was similar to that from Chew Park (ST 55 NE 3) and included grooved, decorated ware. The only other finds were a saddle quern rubber, the spring from an iron brooch, abd bones of ox, pig and sheep.
A cutting across the main rampart showed it to be formed of lias blocks. The ditch produced First Phase I.A. pottery in the lower levels and Second Phase in the upper filling. (5) Published survey (1:2500) correct.
Burledge Camp was “discovered” in the 1940s but is shown as an ‘ancient fortification’ by Strachy, and is the “Bow Ditches” mentioned by Stukeley. (6)
Published excavation report with information as per Authority 6. See plan.
The finds and records have been placed in the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society Museum. (7) Earthworks and former house sites discovered on and around Burledge hillfort during a landscape survey in 1983 (9)
The hillfort referred to by the above authorities is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the Mendip Hills AONB NMP project. The hillfort is as described though only the southwest and south side were visible due to dense vegetation cover. The south side comprises of an internal bank and external ditch with an outer south facing scarp slope. In the southwest corner only the main rampart and a slight external ditch is visible. The outer defence on the eastern side of the hillfort is visible as a ditch extending from ST 5839 5840 to ST 5840 5853, the bank presumably covered by the dense vegetation. The hillfort earthworks are still visible on the south and west sides on aerial photographs taken in 2000. (11-12)

Details of barrow on Pastscape Pastscape

[MARGINAL] A round barrow on Claverton Down, about 1/4 mile N.W. of Bath Statutory Hospital, was discovered in 1926 or 1927 by J.P.E. Falconer and reported to A.T. Wicks. Fragments of calcined bones, probably human, and a few small worked flints, were found on the surface in 1927 when the barrow was under the plough.(1) Falconer has the annotation ‘barrow’ at ST 77386313. (a) This spot has recently been ploughed but there is no visible soil mark or surface feature that may indicate a barrow. the farmer does not remember a mound anywhere in the vicinity. (2)

Details of site on Pastscape Pastscape

ST 637692. Earthwork on Durley Hill. An apparently circular earthwork cut by the road. It is much ploughed down and the eastern half cannot be traced. The bank is low and wide and the ditch is inside. Its diameter is estimated at 100m. It is best seen south of the road. The site has no defensive value. It is possible that this is a remnant of a henge monument. The two visible ends are at ST 636266900 (sic, and besides the 9 figures the northings are evidently wrong) and ST 63646925. (1)
Only small-scale OS APs available. They show what is clearly the feature, centred at ST 63656920 and astride the road. But it bears little resemblance, other than in the approximate dimension, to the description above, and appears to be sub-rectangular and decidedly indistinct south of the road. (2)

Details of Barrows on Pastscape Pastscape

[ST 5372 5375, ST 5376 5365] TUMULI [GT] T.68 and T.69 (2) two simple bowl barrows. T.68:- 60ft. across and 9ft. high: disturbed by four filled-in trenches.
T.69: 54ft. across and 5 1/2ft. high: partley destroyed. Scheduled. (2-5)
T.68 (Grinsell’s West Harptree 11) is a bowl barrow 2.6 metres high. T.69 (Grinsell’s East Harptree 1) is a bowl barrow, 2.1 metres high, which has been mutilated on its southern side by the course of a wall. Surveyed at 1:2500 (6)