Monument record 857 - Mound in Utkinton Parish

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 56 NE 9 (Index). SCH2487.

Note: this card covers two adjacent earthworks, CHER 857 and CHER 861/1, which have become confused by the field inspectors. Site of Tumulus depicted on Ordnance Survey maps. One of two noticed by Shone? See SJ 56 NE 4. [MSG 01/05/1961].

<2> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 4/A.021 (Index). SCH1000.

Survey in August 1972 by T. Clare showed some interesting cropmarks.

<3> Longley D, 1979, Prehistoric Sites in Cheshire, p.22 no.105 (Report). SCH2719.

Location mapped in relation to the Seven Lows barrow cemetery.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, vol.I p.86 (Book). SCH3556.

Round earthen mound; diameter 22 metres, height 2 metres ploughed.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Robinson KD, 1993 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Although viewed from a distance there was no evidence of an earthwork resembling a barrow, and the conclusion is that if there was a barrow on the site it will have been largely destroyed by ploughing.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, no.105 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

Note: this card covers two adjacent earthworks, CHER 857 and CHER 861/1.

Mound - twenty-two metres in diameter and two metres high. Mound mentioned by the Ordnance Survey is likely the area a few metres to the east of this mound - probably natural. The mound to the west of the probable feature - more likely to be a barrow - clear outline - although land character makes definite decision difficult. [AJF & LD].

<7> Shone W, 1911, Prehistoric Man in Cheshire (Book). SCH2710.

<8> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, 1m DSM Composite 2017 (19/11/2021) (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5666, 1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts a circular earthwork labelled Tumulus.

<10> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5666, 1910 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

This map depicts an antiquity at this location. It is labelled Tumulus (site of).

<11> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 24/11/2021 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

A sub-circular or oval earthwork is visible on LIDAR data (see 8) covering this area. Its location corresponds with an earthwork depicted on the 1875 Ordnance Survey map (see 9).

<12> English Heritage, 1990-1993, Monuments Protection Programme Site Visit Form, Robinson KD, 20/01/1993 (Unpublished Document). SCH5222.

Reason for not scheduling: Considerable ambiguity regarding this site. A possible tumulus (one of two) was noted by Shone and seemingly marked on the Ordnance Survey six-inch map as Tumulus (Site of) in 1954. However, in 1961 the site was visited and recorded as a mound up to four metres high and measuring seventy metres by forty-five metres. It was noted as being out of character with known barrows in the area and thus was considered to be one of a series of natural mounds. In 1986 it was included in Longley’s survey of barrows and recorded as measuring twenty-two metres diameter and two metres high, with a note that the land character makes a definite decision difficult. The following year it was described as one of several natural knolls in the area.

MPP site visit was attempted on 11/12/1992. Unfortunately, the owner would not allow access. The field worker attempted to view the site from nearby road and lane but could not quite see the summit of the low knoll where the barrow supposedly lies, however, there was no evidence of an earthwork resembling a barrow on the skyline. It was noted that the land had been heavily ploughed for some considerable time (1986 survey notes ploughing) and the conclusion is that if a barrow existed here it will have been largely destroyed by ploughing. The site was therefore not recommended for scheduling.