Monument record 11211/2 - Possible Barrow East of Duke's Drive

<1> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Bawn W, 05/09/2019 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

A mound like earthwork located in 'Low Field' (as named on the tithe map and apportionment c.1840 (see 2)). The ridge and furrow earthworks in this field carefully skirt around the feature. Because of its name the 'low field' (see 3) and the shape of the feature, it may be a prehistoric burial mound.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 96/2 c.1842 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The earthwork is located in a plot called 'low hill'.

<3> Oxford English Dictionary, 1928-2008, Oxford English Dictionary, low, n.1 (Book). SCH5094.

low: A man-made mound; specifically a burial mound, a tumulus.

<4> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, DTM 1m 2008, SJ46NW DTM_F0109248, 06/12/2008 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

An irregular shaped mound is visible on the DTM version of this LIADR survey. The mound appears to be bisected on its eastern side by a north-south aligned linear depression. The surrounding east-west aligned ridge and furrow earthworks seem to respect this feature by diverging around it. However it is also apparent that this feature has spread into the adjacent furrows.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ4064, 1899 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

This map depicts a small rectangle of coniferous trees at this location.

<6> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, Various, Historic Environment Record Site Visit Record, Edwards R, 29/10/2019 (Unpublished Document). SCH5294.

A low mound like earthwork at least partially composed of rough irregular shaped blocks of sandstone. Probable disturbance has resulted in a crescent shape, though this may also be due to the addition of a crescent of sandstone to the top of the low earthwork. Four Scott’s Pines have been planted on the earthwork. The surrounding ridge and furrow earthworks (11211/1) appear to respect the low earthwork.

The relationship with the ridge and furrow earthworks suggests that this feature predates it. The place-name evidence (see 1, 2 & 3) lends support to the interpretation of the feature as a Bronze Age barrow. However, it is clear that, if this interpretation is correct, the earthwork has been altered, presumably when the pines were planted, to enhance or utilise the feature as part of the parkland (CHER 1969/3/0).

<7> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps, 07/11/2019 (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.

<8> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1986/5/56 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.