Monument record 1376/1 - Possible Stone Circle or Barrow at Hopedale Farm

<1> County Historic Environment Record, 1973-1985, Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin, No.3 p.43-45 (Journal/Periodical). SCH565.

Two large globular glacial erratics 0.3-0.4m diameter, one of millstone grit and the other of limestone, were discovered during ploughing in 1971. This was believed to be only the second time the field had been ploughed. Several similar stones were observed in the surrounding field boundaries, some of which had been built into a stile. This concentration of boulders within an area of some 1000 square metres, on terrain formed largely of sand and gravels where large surface stones are rare, led to the hypothesis that the stones had formed part of a structure which originally stood on the crest of the hill where the two buried boulders were found.

Excavation in the late autumn of 1971 revealed thirteen irregular features which were interpreted as pits. These features were located on the southern face of the hill. Eleven of the pits appeared to form a circle round a central pit. The thirteenth pit lay to the immediate east. The maximum depth of the pits was 0.63m and a number contained small cobbles as settings. The pit fills generally contained small quantities of charcoal and one contained small fragments of bone and another a fragment of flint. The thirteenth pit had evidence indicative of insitu burning, the surrounding natural sand was coloured bright red and the fill contained a greater quantity of charcoal including a fragment of carbonised wood 0.25 x 0.15 x 0.03 metres in size.

It is hypothesised by the excavators that the pits are the settings to the stones of a stone circle, the stones of which are now to be found in the surrounding field boundaries. They believe the stones to so arranged as to align with sunrise on the winter solstice.

<2> Rowley G 1982, 1982, Macclesfield in Prehistory, p.11 (Book). SCH2062.

<3> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, no.70 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

No trace of the large stones mentioned in Cheshire Archaeological Bulletin (see 1), but small stones are scattered around the field.

<4> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, 1849 EDT/2 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

In 1849 the land use was recoded as arable.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R 01/02/2010 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

It is possible that this is a ploughed out barrow which once had a stone kerb or that it is a more complex monument similar to that at Church Lawton South (CHER: 133/1/3). Pit thirteen and the associated burning may be associated with secondary interments into the body of the barrow. It is also possible that these features may be associated with clearance of the land for agriculture and therefore may be of a more recent date.