More information : (ST 75760165) Giant's Grave (NR)
Giant's Stones (NAT) (1)
'GIANT'S GRAVE' (75770165), lies along the lower W. slopes of
Henning Hill in the extreme S. of the parish. Immediatley above
it the hillside rises steeply. The monument comprises a terrace,
from 9 ft. to 21 ft. in width, 210 ft. in length, and about
2 ft. high, which curves slightly W. towards the S. end. A
shallow ditch about 4 ft. across flanks the W. side and extends
around the N. end. A low rectangular mound (23 ft. by 18 ft.) has
been built on the terrace at the N. end. The terrace is almost
certainly the result of ploughing; it represents a strip lynchet
which has been truncated at the N. end and to which a mound has
been added. Despite 'strange popular traditions' (Hutchins IV,
381) the Giant's Grave is probably comparable with the pillow
mound (22) which lies 40 yds. to the S.S.E.
The 'Giant's Stones' are two sarsen boulders. One, measuring
7 1/2 ft. by 5 1/2 ft. by 3 1/2 ft., lies midway along the
terrace of the Giant's Grave. The other, 130 ft. to the N.W.,
is largely buried at a field edge; the exposed portion is 5 ft.
long. There is no evidence that the boulders were ever connected
with the mound or that they have any structural significance. (2-3)
ST 75750165. 'Giant's Grave' (name in local use) is as described
by R.C.H.M. (2).
Giant Stones: ST 7574801660. The largest sarsen in the terrace,
is of conspicuous whitish - colour, with the surface finely
indented by small 'sponge-like' cavities. It is not earth-fast,
and assumes a semi-recumbent position. (See ground-photo).
ST 7571801682. The small sarsen exposed in the field boundary is
of little visual interest; it projects 0.7m. above ground
surface. (see ground photo).
The earthwork is poorly defined on OS air photographs (2).
Resurveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. (4)
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