Monument record 1627/1/2 - Bowl barrow 50m South of Summit of Sponds Hill

<1> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), 22572 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.

The monument is a bowl barrow located 50m south of the summit of Sponds Hill. It includes a flat-topped turf-covered oval mound of earth and stones up to 1m high with maximum dimensions of 19.5m by 16m.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, Vol.30 p.184-194 Andrews W J 1912 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<3> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, no.78 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

A low mound-like feature much disturbed by moles and with a flattened top suggestive of excavation.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol.1 p.84 (Book). SCH3556.

Round earthen mound, grass covered.

<5> Barnatt J, 1989, Peak District Barrow Survey, Sponds Hill No.22:5 (Unpublished Report). SCH2591.

A flat topped mound with an uneven surface indicative of previous robbing, livestock erosion or old burrows. It is 19.5m x 16m and between 0.5 and 1m high. Recent disturbance from motorcycles. 1:200 survey included.

<6> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Smith K 23/11/1988 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

Damage has occured to the monument during a motorcross event. This has revealed some possible kerb stones in one area of the monument.

<7> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Unknown (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

It was believed that this was the barrow was excavated in 1911 by W J Andrews (see 2). However the barrow that Andrews excavated was located 'midway in length of Sponds Hill and opposite to the village of Kettleshulme which lies below, a mile away to the east and called Reed's Hill'. This suggests that the excavated barrow was CHER 1597 (SJ 97817984) and not Sponds Hill barrow-north.

<8> Peak District National Park Authority, 1999, Brink Farm, Pott Shrigley annd Lyme Handley, Cheshire Archaeological Survey 1999, p.7 & 20 (Client Report). SCH5009.

The barrow is situated at 409m AOD the crest of a ridge at the southern end of the highest area. It has good views over slopes to the south-west and east. The barrow makes the locations of the burials prominent features in the landscape. This prominence is heightened by the positioning of the barrows on the edge of a deeply incised dale. The alignment of the long barrow with the natural topography emphasises the ridge. The deliberate and careful selection of this topographical site makes the burial place of the dead, and from some locations the barrow itself, highly visible from some of the surrounding area. Barrows such as this one have been interpreted as helping to remind the living of their ancestry, of their kinship with their community and of their association with a geographic location.

<9> Peak District National Park Archaeology Service, Various, Scheduled Ancient Monument Monitoring Form (Unpublished Document). SCH4989.

Between 2005 and 2014 this monument has been visited 4 times by Peak District National Park rangers to monitor its condition. The condition of the monument has remained unchanged during this time and it lies in grassland grazed by sheep.