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It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

HER Number:TR 35 NW 38
Type of record:Monument
Name: Saxon burials, Firtree Hill, Woodnesborough

Summary

The Mount - undated mound (site of) with accompanying finds found pre 1793. In 1828 a Frankish spouted pitcher and circular brooch were found together in a sand-pit at the back of the Oak public house. In 1902 possible Anglo-Saxon burials (calcined bones) over an area of c.30m were found in a field near Walton, about 460m from Woodnesborough church. Approximately 100m away (within the same field) a layer of burnt bones was found c.1.22m deep.

The site is on the brow of an east facing hill. OD 25-30m.


Grid Reference:TR 3081 5683
Map Sheet:TR35NW
Parish:WOODNESBOROUGH, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • BURIAL (BURIAL, Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BARROW (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 567 AD? to 599 AD?)

Associated Finds

  • BROOCH (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)
  • JUG (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)
  • SPEAR (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)
  • VESSEL (Early Medieval or Anglo-Saxon - 500 AD to 599 AD)

Full description

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[TR 30815683] Tumulus [NR] (Site of) [NAT] (1) N of Woodnesborough Church, at the published site, Hasted shows a large conical flat-topped mound called 'The Mount'. He describes it as ' apparently artificial...consisting of sandy earth' and goes on to say ' some years ago sundry sepulchral remains were found in the top including a cone beaker, a fibula, the head of a spear and some fragments of Roman vessels. Much of the earth or sand has been lately removed but nothing further has been found' (a). 1828: A Frankish-type jug of coarse bluish pottery found with a circular jewelled brooch in a sandpit 'behind the Oak Inn at Woodnesborough' TR 30835689 (b) is almost certainly from this site, as are about 30 glass vessels found in the late C18 'very near the conical hill at Woodnesborough'. (c) These glass vessels were used by farm hands until all were broken except one, illustrated by Akerman, (d) a C5-early C6 bell beaker (e). There is now no trace of the mound which, according to Clarke (f) was moated. The site is occupied by an old, disused sand-pit and two modern bungalows. (2) Probably the site of the very important late C6 Anglo-Saxon burial excavated c1845 by W.W Boreham. The grave goods are in Saffron Walden Museum. (3)
In 1828 a Frankish spouted pitcher and circular brooch were found together in a sand-pit at the back of the Oak public house. In 1902 possible Anglo-Saxon burials (calcined bones) over an area of c.30m were found in a field near Walton, about 460m from Woodnesborough church. Approximately 100m away (within the same field) a layer of burnt bones was found c.1.22m deep.
The site is on the brow of an east facing hill. OD 25-30m.


<1> OS 25" 1957 (OS Card Reference). SKE48272.

<2> F1 FGA 26-JUN-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42986.

<3> History of Kent 4 1799 print opp 179 238-9 (E Hasted) (OS Card Reference). SKE44120.

<4> VCH Kent 1 1908 387 (OS Card Reference). SKE50880.

<5> Nenia Brit 1793 71 (J Douglas) (OS Card Reference). SKE47527.

<6> Remains of Pagan Saxondom 1853 33 plate 17.i (JY Akerman) (OS Card Reference). SKE49146.

<7> Dark Age Britain 1956 137-41 (DB Harden) (OS Card Reference). SKE39582.

<8> Arch J 46 1889 206 (GT Clarke) List of Moated Mounds or Burhs) (OS Card Reference). SKE36641.

<9> Medieval Archaeology 11 1967 1-41 (HRE Davidson and L Webster) (OS Card Reference). SKE46850.

<10> Bury P and Suff W, Inst 1 1853 27 (OS Card Reference). SKE38438.

<11> Field report for monument TR 35 NW 38 - June, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6057.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 25" 1957.
<2>OS Card Reference: F1 FGA 26-JUN-64.
<3>OS Card Reference: History of Kent 4 1799 print opp 179 238-9 (E Hasted).
<4>OS Card Reference: VCH Kent 1 1908 387.
<5>OS Card Reference: Nenia Brit 1793 71 (J Douglas).
<6>OS Card Reference: Remains of Pagan Saxondom 1853 33 plate 17.i (JY Akerman).
<7>OS Card Reference: Dark Age Britain 1956 137-41 (DB Harden).
<8>OS Card Reference: Arch J 46 1889 206 (GT Clarke) List of Moated Mounds or Burhs).
<9>OS Card Reference: Medieval Archaeology 11 1967 1-41 (HRE Davidson and L Webster).
<10>OS Card Reference: Bury P and Suff W, Inst 1 1853 27.
<11>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 35 NW 38 - June, 1964.