Exploring Kent's Past

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

Monument details

Summary

Natural feature; possible site of crouched inhumation

Monument Types

• NATURAL FEATURE (poss site of crounched inhumation, Unknown date)
• SITE? (Unknown date)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

[TQ 71047465] Barrow Hill [TI.] A natural weathered outlier of Thanet Sand. (see AP. 8451) A.P. 8451 shows a very clear ditch round this feature, but no trace of other mounds in Higham Marshes. The crouched burial with Porosphaera beads may have been found here, see TQ77SW11. Barrow Hill is a naturally weathered mass of Thanet Sand. It was dug into by Mr. George Payne and the scars of his excavation may still be seen. George Payne in his Archaeological Survey of the County Kent makes no mention of this site. (Archaeologia Vol.51 1889 pp 1-22 map). A natural irregular-shaped, turf covered mound, approximately 3.0m in height with a central mutilation, and other slight hollows in the sides. Outside the main mound and separated from it by a barn is a slight ditch with traces of an outer bank. This has been destroyed on the eastern side by the present deep drainage ditches. The ditch may have been dug for drainage purposes. Similar shallow ditches exist elsewhere on these marshes. However, as this mound is the only feature of its kind on Higham Marshes, it would have been the obvious choice of site for a burial as suggested by Authority 3. It is recognised locally as a sacred place. An antiquity model 25" survey has been made. No change; published survey 25"(1963), checked & correct.

References inlcude: OS card/NAR index entry (1-8), relevant references from field reports (9,10) and other sites in context of the Thames estuary (12). Site photographs (13-16). Seen in 2005, covered in grasses. (17)

<1> OS 6" 1939-40 (OS Card Reference). SKE48360.

<2> RF Jessup, Dec. 1936. (OS Card Reference). SKE49241.

<3> Rec 6" (O.G.S. Crawford, undtd) (OS Card Reference). SKE49054.

<4> ALFR AAO 18-AUG-51 (OS Card Reference). SKE32990.

<5> Arch. Cant. Vol.55, 1942 p.15 (R.F. Jessup) (OS Card Reference). SKE37113.

<6> Arch 51 1889 1-22 & map (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE34429.

<7> F1 ASP 23-JAN-59 (OS Card Reference). SKE42244.

<8> F2 FGA 26-OCT-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43333.

<9> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 1 - January, 1959 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4273.

<10> Field report for monument TQ 77 SW 1 - October, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4274.

<12> Spurrell, F. C. J., 1885, Early sites and embankments on the margins of the Thames estuary., Archaeologicla Journal 42, p283 (Article in serial). SWX7560.

<13> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9866.

<14> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9859.

<15> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9833.

<16> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9405.

<17> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

Sources and further reading