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Summary

Robin Hood's Clump, Ibsley Common, New Forest (HFCAS Section Site no. SU11SE39) NF10177

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1019305: ROUND BARROW CEMETERY ON IBSLEY COMMON, 800M SOUTH EAST OF BLUNTS BARN COTTAGE

Other References/Statuses

• Common Land: Ibsley Common
• National Park: New Forest

Monument Types

• CIRCULAR ENCLOSURE (Prehistoric - 500000 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

Robin Hood's Clump is a landmark feature visible for miles around. It comprises a group of eighteen fairly small Scots pine (said to have been replanted in 1931 and much smaller than the overstorey in Whitefield Clump) in a prominent hilltop position. They are planted within a circular embanked enclosure, with the interior slightly raised above the surroundings, and with an external ditch which presumably provided the material for raising the interior in addition to the bank construction. The diameter (top of bank to top of bank) is 10.3 metres and the overall diameter including the ditch is 15 metres. The top of the bank is about 0.4 metres above the bottom of the ditch. It is thus very similar in form (if not in size) to the hilltop planting rings at Paddy Bussey's Firs (Map 14) on Rockford Common and the ring earthwork at Dorridge (Map 12). It is also comparable to the three planting rings on Pleasure House Hill in Newlands (Map 1), although far more consolidated, perhaps because of its exposed position open to stock and heavily trampled by walkers. Unfortunately, this straightforward identification of a planting ring is challenged by English Heritage who have determined that it is in fact a barrow and who have scheduled it under the number SM31178/02. They further comment on it as follows:

"The disc barrow, 19.5m in total diameter (conflicts with our measurement) is of relatively unusual form, comprising a disc shaped platform, raised 0.15m, surrounded by a low raised rim, and a shallow outer ditch. It is very prominently located at the intersection of two spurs at the western edge of the gravel plateau".

Since this is probably the most prominent archaeological feature on Ibsley Common, it is worth considering in more detail the two possible interpretations of the earthwork. Against this being a barrow is one important piece of negative evidence. The first edition of the Ordance Survey One Ince map shows many of the more obvious barrows on Ibsley Common by the standard cicular symbol. It shows the "cockpit" barrow (Site SU11SE40) which is only 150 metres away and much less obvious than Robin Hood's Clump. If the latter existed as an earthwork (supposed barrow) in 1808, why was it omitted? We have been unable to arrive at any precise dating of the ornamental clump planting on Ibsley Common, but Sumner's record in the "Book of Gorley"(2) is as follows:

"The three clumps of Scots pine and Weymouth pine (sic) - Whitefield, Robin Hood's and Dorridge - were planted by the second Lord Normanton to give landmarks and variety to his view from Somerley of the long line of the New Forest hills, so the story is told. Whitefield and Dorridge were planted about the year 1835, Robin Hood's about the year 1850".

The Dorridge Clump referred to here had been planted by 1840. It is almost certainly the enclosure on Dorridge Hill now occupied by the bungalow of that name and not the "ring" further north east. Whitefield is on an altogether larger scale. The Ibsley tithe map of 1841 shows neither Whitefield nor Robin Hood's clumps but both appear on the OS 6" map of 1872(3).

A typescript in the New Forest Museum at Lyndhurst, "Notes on Hyde and Frogham" by M. Cowie (1951) contains the following: "It is still remembered how the Dowager Lady Normanton of Victorian times used to drive over from Somerley in her coach and pair, in the afternoons, to a view point on Furzehill where she had planted a ring of trees beneath which she sat to admire the views and distant prospect of Somerley House." This could hardly be any other site than Robin Hood's Clump which might reasonably be described as "on Furzehill".

In support of the barrow theory, it should be noted that the place name "Robin Hood's Butt" appears on the Ordance Survey map (misplaced [presumably] to the west). "Butt" placenames in the New Forest are often attached to barrows, e.g. "The Butt" at Fritham and "The Butts" near Islands Thorns.

Finally, the possibility that both interpretations of the earthwork might be correct cannot be overlooked. It is possible that the clump was planted on a pre-existing barrow site. Certainly there is some evidence to suggest that this was done at Three Trees Hill on Rockford Common (Site SU10NE35).(1)

A 12m x 0.5m Bronze Age burial mound. Visible as a low cicrcular platform with a small copse of trees planted on it. (4)

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

Related records: none recorded

Images

All full size images can be viewed in NT Heritage Records Online.

Possible Bronze Age Disc Barrow MNA180627 looking west © National Trust

Possible Bronze Age Disc Barrow MNA180627 looking east © National Trust

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