More information : [Centred at SU 42521336] Opposite to BITTERN on
the west side across the river is a hill called BEVOIS HILL,
from a legendary tradition that BEVOIS of SOUTHAMPTON lies
buried there. Where the summer house now stands was a barrow
and in digging the foundations a human skeleton was found. The
top of this hill was once ploughed and 'I have heard that Roman
coins have been found'. The side of the hill next to the shore
is very steep and has a wet ditch at the bottom of it.
[Author goes on to suggest that the 'Hill' or mound was a Ro.
'scout watch', standing at a ford across the river to
CLAUSENTUM]. (1) Symbol similar to that used to indicate S'TON CASTLE, described
as 'PADWELL HILL'. (2)
In the grounds of BEVIS MOUNT HOUSE was the Mount, 'the fabled
tomb of the saxon hero, SIR BEVIS of HAMTON', An anonymous
description of 1753 calls it - 'a waste large pile of earth,
which rises in the form of a cone, from a large wide foundation
of great extent and circumference ... it is supposed to be an
ancient fortification, thrown up by the Saxons under the
command of BEVIS...'. (3)
Mount described as 'SIR BEVOYS HILL'. (4)
Sited from Accurate plan. (5)
PADWELL HILL or BEVIS MOUNT was a large artificial mound, now
vanished completely. Its age and purpose are unknown but it was
probably a 12th century castle mound of the adulterine kind,
commanding an important highway, where it passes between a
steep hill and the estuary (6) quoting (1) and (2)
Add refs to Ro. coins (7) and (8).
Add. ref. to Mount. (9)
In 1868 some sculptured pieces were found on BEVOIS HILL and
without valid reason, pronounced to be possibly Roman. (7)
Brief ref. to 1868 finds as 'Roman remains'. (8)
BEVOIS MOUNT was on the top of a natural rock of sand and iron
stained sandstone of the BAGSHOT beds. 'The mount went first
and then the rock-like mass below, as I saw it in its last
stage'. (10)
The REV. E. KELL exhibited photographs of a terminal statue, a
white marble head and basin found at BEVIS MOUNT. The
dimensions of the statue are 3'1 1/2" high, 8" of which was for
insertion into the ground; 3" thick and 16" broad, although it
was originally perhaps 1 1/2" broader as a part of the right
arm has been chiselled away.
In the marble head the length of the face was 2'4" and its
breadth 1'8". The nose had been broken off and replaced by a
modern one.
The basin was 17" in diameter, with 16 spirals on the
circumference and a water outlet. On the ground near it were
found four roofing tile from VINDOMUM.
Discussion of the photographs resulted in the ascription.
'Roman-barbaric' to the head and statue but the basin 'much
more modern' was probably a fountain (11). (1-11)
The area is now completely built over. In view of the
conflicting statements in T.1. no certain classification of
this mound can be suggested. It seems likely that the statuary
and tiles found are part of the 18/19th century landscape
gardening. (12)
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