Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

There have been various reports of the barrow or moated mound on the road to Trottiscliffe. It is 30m in diameter and 2.5m high with a circular depression on the top, which is believed to have been made by treasure seekers in the past. The mound is covered with undergrowth and trees and a small part has been incorporated into the garden of "Mountmead." On the western side a possible ditch has been deepened as aroad gully.

Monument Types

• BOWL BARROW (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)

Full description

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[TQ 63835934] Tumulus [NR] (1) "Tumulus or moated mound". (2) "Round : on west between it and road is an old dry pond. Stands on top of ridge. More likely to be a barrow than a castle-mound, I think. On top is a circular depression caused by riflers?" (3) An interesting barrow with no apparent history. It is densely covered with trees and undergrowth. The ditch remains on its west side but has been deepened to serve as a road gully. Deep crater left on top by 'treasure-seekers' - many years ago to judge by its consilidated condition. A small part of the barrow is incorporated into the garden of 'Mountmead'.(4) 4.10.1906 A possible tumulus or moated mound lies on the road to Trosley [= Trottiscliffe] in wood. (5) A bowl barrow, 30.0m in diameter, 2.5m high. Hollow at the centre. Overgrown with trees and bushes. No certain evidence of a ditch. Published Antiquity Model survey found to be correct. (6) Checked and correct. (7)


From the National Heritage List for England:

"Details
The monument includes a bowl barrow which comprises an earthen mound encircled by a now-infilled quarry ditch. This is a large barrow, the mound measuring some 30m in diameter and standing to a maximum height of 3m. Indeed, it was originally even higher; partial excavation at the summit has lowered the mound somewhat. The surrounding ditch has been enlarged on the south side and has collected water for many years. On the remaining sides the ditch has been infilled by soil eroded from the mound and is no longer visible on the surface. The diameter of the mound and ditch together is 36m. No records of who was responsible for the excavation, nor of what was found, have yet come to light, but the trench was already partly obscured in 1923 so that a date in the 19th century for the excavation is most likely. Two small concrete bases for garden ornaments which lie over the infilled ditch on the northern side are excluded from the scheduling but the ground beneath is included.

Reasons for Designation
Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. They were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar, although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form and a diversity of burial practices. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring across most of lowland Britain. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation of form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisations amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

Despite the limited damage caused to the Mount Mead monument in the 19th century by excavation, the majority of the barrow mound and the surrounding ditch survive intact. The barrow therefore retains significant potential for the recovery of evidence of the nature and date of its use and of the environment in which it was constructed." (10)

<1> OS 6" 1936 (OS Card Reference). SKE48337.

<2> Rec 6" (ER Harrison 1928) (OS Card Reference). SKE49037.

<3> Rec 6" (OGS Crawford 6.8.23) (OS Card Reference). SKE49059.

<4> Rec 6" (RF Jessup & JH Evan Sept 1946) (OS Card Reference). SKE49072.

<5> Harrison of Ightham 1928 272 (ER Harrison) (OS Card Reference). SKE43713.

<6> F1 ASP 25.06.59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42274.

<7> F2 CFW 26.02.64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43280.

<8> Field report for monument TQ 65 NW 20 - June, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3355.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 65 NW 20 - February, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3356.

<10> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

Sources and further reading