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Historic England Research Records

Barrow Hill

Hob Uid: 370022
Location :
Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire
Widford
Grid Ref : TL4170016830
Summary : Two mounds (one now destroyed). Surviving mound probably a medieval motte. Destroyed mound unclassifiable.
More information : (TL 41701683) Barrow Hill, Tumulus (NR). (1)

Two barrows at Barrow Farm, NW of the railway and c 250 yards from the River Ash. The larger (Barrow Hill) is covered with brushwood, measures 100 ft in diameter and 35 ft in height, and a fairly level top measuring 47 ft N-S by 18 ft E-W. The smaller one is 50 yards south of the larger (and therefore at ca TL 417167) and is 30 ft in diameter and 7ft high. Cussons classifies them as Roman barrows and records that the smaller was excavated by Richard Braybrooke in 1851, when 'a few objects, but none of great archaeological interest, were discovered'; these have since been lost. (2)

The two barrows listed under 'Presumed Roman barrows'. (3)

Barrow Hill considered to be the mound of a Motte and bailey castle. (4)

Visited Jan 1950. Hemp's view concurred with. (5)

Barrow Hill - name verified. An artificial earthen mound situated near the crest of a SE-facing slope. The mound is tree and scrub covered and surrounded by an area under crop. (6)

Measuring c 43.0 m in overall diameter and c 6.6m high, it has a gentle sloping top, there being no evidence of flattening. There is no apparent mutilation apart from natural land slip on the steep sides. A very slight depression possibly indicating a ditch c 12-0m wide surrounds the mound except for the E side, but there is no trace of a berm.

There is no trace of the second, smaller mound in an area under crop. A Mr E Garritt (b) who once farmed this land, stated this mound was levelled c 1950, at which time it measured c 8.0m in overall diameter and c 2.0m high. He was only able to indicate the siting as area TL 416167.

The appearance and location of the larger mound suggest it is not a barrow, and although there is no trace of outworks having existed, it is probably a motte.

No certain classification can be made for the second smaller mound.
Published survey (25") revised.

Listed (7).

Medieval pottery found during fieldwalking confirms a Medieval date for this site (8)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1923
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Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : E E Squires
Page(s) : 130-4
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Vol(s) : 1902-4
Source Number : 2a
Source :
Source details : Hist of Herts 1-3 1870-3 (J E Cussons)
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : Dunning & Jessup
Page(s) : 52
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Vol(s) : 10, 1936
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : W J Hemp
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Vol(s) : 1, 1949
Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : Corr 6" (Holmes, 1950)
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Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : F1 JRL 24-MAY-73
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Source Number : 6b
Source :
Source details : Mr E Garritt The Caravan Perry Green
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Source Number : 7
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Source details :
Page(s) : 26-Jul
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Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : P Richards
Page(s) : 4
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Vol(s) : 3, 1977

Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Medieval
Monument End Date : 1540
Monument Start Date : 1066
Monument Type : Motte
Evidence : Earthwork
Monument Period Name : Uncertain
Display Date :
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Mound
Evidence : Destroyed Monument

Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Hertfordshire)
External Cross Reference Number : 4235
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 20649
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TL 41 NW 1
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1851-01-01
End Date : 1851-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1973-05-24
End Date : 1973-05-24