HER Number (PRN): | 00347 |
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Name: | Ring cairn and Selattyn Tower, Selattyn Hill, Selattyn and Gobowen |
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Type of Record: | Monument |
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Protected Status: | Scheduled Monument 1017237: Ring cairn |
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Monument Type(s):
Summary
Scheduled Monument: A fascinating example of an early Bronze Age burial cairn (which has produced at least 12 cremation urns) reused in the 19th century for a tower commemorating a 6th century British prince killed in battle nearby, which was itself reused as an observation post by the Home Guard in World War II.
Parish: | Selattyn and Gobowen, Oswestry, Shropshire |
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Map Sheet: | SJ23SE |
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Grid Reference: | SJ 2559 3416 |
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Related records: None recorded
Associated Finds
- FSA184 - BURIAL URN (Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 1501 BC)
Associated Events
- ESA352 - 1972 field observation by the Ordnance Survey
- ESA4823 - 1998 Evaluation at Selattyn Hill by SCCAS
- ESA5012 - 1998 Structural survey of Selattyn Hill Tower
- ESA5687 - 1999 WB on removal of rubble and debris from inside Selattyn Hill Tower by SCCAS
- ESA9067 - 2019 Heritage at Risk Survey by Historic England
Description
Twelve urns, each containing burnt bones, were found in a cairn. The cairn is situated on an eminence of Selattyn Mountain .. <1a>
The cairn in which the urns were found is probably that beneath Selattyn Tower. OS FI 1972 <1>
The shell of Sellatyn Tower, a C19 belvedere, stands within a probable cairn ring some 3m wide, 0.5m high and 20m in diameter, the SE side of which is mutilated. The interior of the rim is littered with stone debris. OS FI 1972 <2><2a>
Structural survey carried out in 1999 on the 19th century tower or belvedere located on Selattyn hill, built upon a ring cairn in conjunction with the proposed consolidation works of the structure. The report advised that due to the condition of the structure, that structural work should concentrate on the consolidation of the extant structure as it stands and reconstruction may be appropriate around the doorway and window. Vegetation in the proximity including conifers located within 30 metres of the structure should be felled for safety reasons and to provide better views of the monument. <4>
Archaeological evaluation carried out in 1998 on the 19th century tower or Belvedere and Ring Cairn located on Selattyn hill, in conjunction with the proposed consolidation works of the structure. The programme of work was carried out in 2 phases. Phase 1 included the supervision of the clearance of trees from the site so as to enhance the cairn and tower. Phase 2 comprised the archaeological evaluation itself. <5>
Evaluated for MPP in 1990-1, Medium score as one of 93 Bowl Barrows <6>
Scheduled in 2000. Scheduling description: ->
-> The monument includes the earthwork and buried remains of a Bronze Age ring cairn and the remains of a 19th century belvedere known as Selattyn Tower, situated on the north eastern edge of the summit of Selattyn Hill. From this location there are extensive views of the Cheshire and Shropshire plains, and the uplands of Shropshire and north east Wales. ->
-> The ring cairn is about 22m in diameter. Its unrevetted stony bank, approximately 3m wide, survives to a maximum height of 0.8m, and defines a circular area 16m across. Later activity on the site has truncated and reduced the height of the southern part of this feature. The bank was built of rounded and weathered boulders, probably locally derived. A small scale archaeological excavation in 1998 revealed that the internal surface of the cairn had also been constructed of local stone, which had been pushed into, and deposited over, the natural sandy subsoil. During this investigation sherds of pottery, of probable Early Bronze Age date, together with fragments of cremated bone, were found in amongst the boulders within the interior. ->
-> Set within the ring cairn, slightly south of the centre, are the remains of Selattyn Tower, a belvedere (or summerhouse built to give a view of surrounding countryside). It was constructed in 1847 to commemorate the death of Prince Gwen, a sixth century prince, who, according to legend, was killed during a battle between the British and the Saxons near Morlas Brook, which runs close to the hill. During the construction of the tower 12 urns each containing burnt bones were discovered. ->
-> The tower is a square construction, measuring 3.8m externally and 2.8m internally, and is built of blocks of local limestone and millstone grit. An early 20th century photograph shows the structure in a state of collapse and without a roof, with the walls standing about 4.5m high. In 1999 the tower, which then stood to a maximum height of 3.5m, was partly rebuilt using some of the collapsed stonework. There is a doorway in the north western wall, a splayed window opening in the south eastern wall, and a fireplace in the south western wall with a projecting chimney stack. The original stone floor was found when fallen masonry was removed from within the tower. The commanding views from the structure led to its use during World War II as an observation post by the Home Guard. <7>
Watching Brief carried out in 1999 on the 19th century tower or Belvedere and Ring Cairn located on Selattyn Hill, in conjunction with the proposed consolidation works of the structure. The work comprised the removal of rubble, debris and recently accumulated topsoil from inside the ruins of the tower. <8>
Photographed during aerial photographic survey in 2009. <10>
Photographs taken (?by Malcolm Reid) in 1998, prior to consolidation. <11>
Sources
[00] | SSA20722 - Card index: Shropshire County Council SMR. Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards. SMR record cards. SMR Card for PRN SA 00347. |
[01a] | SSA10777 - Article in serial: Wynne-Foulkes W. 1851. Tumulus, Gorsedd Wen and the reasons for supposing it to be the tomb of Gwen, one of Llywarch Hen's sons. Archaeologia Cambrensis. Ser 2, Vol 2. p9-19. p11-12. |
[01] | SSA1586 - Card index: Ordnance Survey. 1972. Ordnance Survey Record Card SJ23SE3. Ordnance Survey record cards. SJ23SE3. |
[02] | SSA1585 - Card index: Ordnance Survey. 1972. Ordnance Survey Record Card SJ23SE1. Ordnance Survey record cards. SJ23SE1. |
[02a] | SSA31554 - Site visit report: Ordnance Survey Field Investigator. Various. NRHE: Ordnance Survey Field Investigators Comments. F1 DRB 19-JUN-72. |
[03] | SSA1587 - Card index: Ordnance Survey. 1972. Ordnance Survey Record Card SJ23SE4. Ordnance Survey record cards. SJ23SE4. |
[04] | SSA21010 - Field survey report: Reid Malcolm L. 1998. A structural survey of Selattyn Tower. |
[05] | SSA20835 - Excavation report: Hannaford Hugh R. 1998. An Archaeological Evaluation of a Bronze Age Ring Cairn on Selattyn Hill. SCCAS Rep. 146. |
[06] | SSA20084 - TEXT: Horton Wendy B. 1990/ 1991. MPP Evaluation File. |
[07] | SSA21282 - Scheduled Monument notification: English Heritage. 2000. Scheduling Papers (New Scheduling, 03/07/2000). 32314. |
[08] | SSA21424 - Watching brief report: Hannaford Hugh R. 2000. A watching brief at Selattyn Tower, Selattyn, nr Oswestry, Shropshire. |
[09] | SSA22535 - Monograph: Watson Michael D. 2002. Shropshire An Archaeological Guide. p13-14.. |
[10] | SSA25661 - Oblique aerial photograph: Shropshire Council. 2009-Mar-29. SA0907_136 (1 photo) Flight: 09_SA_07. Colour. Digital. |
[11] | SSA28800 - Photograph: ? Reid Malcolm L. 1998-Feb. Photographs of Selattyn prior to consolidation work. Colour. 35mm. |
Date Last Edited: | Jan 10 2024 11:25AM |
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