More information : ('A'-SS 6008 4388) Stone (NAT)
('B'-SS 60124392; 'C'-SS 60114389) Tumuli (NR) (1)
The original layout of stone monuments on Mattock's Down was
reconstructed with some certainty by Chanter and Hansford Worth
using earlier authorities. See plans. ('A'-SS 60084388) The
surviving standing stone, 9 1/2ft high was situated in a shallow
depression. (2). Palmer (3) remarked on the erosion of this stone.
Another standing stone to the north west was described by Westcote
(b) but it had fallen in 1822 and had since been removed.
A row of twenty three smaller stones also stood to the north but
these had completely disappeared by 1822. At least two stone circles
appear to have existed on Mattock's Down; one described by Risdon as
"more than the height of a man" and another of six stones, "not
remarkable for their height" mentioned by the correspondent of
Dean Milles in 1751. No trace of the stone circles were visible.
Two barrows ('B' and 'C') are situated in the adjacent field, one
of which was mentioned in Polwhele, (2). (2-4)
'A' - This stone is a prominent topographical feature which stands
upon the western extremity of a ridge of long barrow. It is
correctly described and is the only stone 'in situ' in the immediate
vicinity (but see SS 64 SW 12 & 8). At 'G' (see plan) are two
blocks of quartz lying lengthwise in the hedge bank 0.4m and 0.6m
respectively. No trace of any other stone was found.
'B' - This barrow has a diameter of 18.0m and a maximum height of
0.9m. It bears no trace of mutilation and has no berm or ditch.
Bowl shaped, spread and under grass.
'C' - The nature of this feature is difficult to determine. A
north-south hedge with an earth bank divides it into two
non-intervisible portions - the eastern and the western. It may be
a long barrow. It may be a round barrow on the eastern extremity
of a natural ridge. It may be a natural East-West ridge - there
are several such in the neighbourhood with a high eastern end and
a low western end. In these latter cases probing proved them to
be near surface rock but in this particular case probing was
inconclusive.
The Eastern portion, has the more definite shape but may have been
scarped towards the west giving the effect of a round barrow - this
may have occurred during the construction of the earth bank. It
is quite definite that a mound or ridge continues beneath the
bank and hedge which shows a marked 'hog's back' - see ground
photograph. Somewhere in the North side of the feature a natural
glacis-type bank begins and as, in the eastern extremity, the
slopes of the mound swing south, so this natural bank extends far
to the east. See plan for vertical drop from highest part of mound.
The Western portion is low, spread and less easily defined. The
slopes fade gently into the surrounding ground. (The limits of the
slopes were carefully traced but by their nature are arbitrary.
(The plan gives a marked resemblance to a long barrow which is not
so marked on the ground). The mound appears to have been spread out
to the north - see plan. Vertical drop from E to F = 1.4m and from
E to H = 0.9m. Overall length East-West = 65.0m. Breadth Eastern
portion = 35.0m. No trace of side ditches were found.
'D' - (SS 60054389). The site of the lost stone according to the
reconstructed plan, falls upon a mound which is much spread out and
has a diameter of 20m. and a height of 0.5m. It is probably a
barrow. The entire area is under grass. (5)
Grass covered bowl barrows on Mattocks Down visited by Grisell and
C. Whybrow in April 1961.
SS600024390 (D) 20 paces x 1 1/2ft. WNW of the standing stone (A).
SS60084389 (E) 25 paces x 2 1/2ft. E of standing stone (A) and cut
by hedge on E side.
SS60124389 (C) 33 paces x 5 ft, extension to the E of uncertain
origin. (2) Scheduled. (6)
SS60124393 (B) 22 paces x 2 1/2ft. (2) Scheduled.
SS60034389 (D) Round barrow approximately 28.0 metres in diameter
and 0.7 metres high.
(E) This is almost certainly not a barrow but part of a natural
ridge which extends to the east and is approximately 100.0 metres
long and 0.9 metres high.
SS60114390 (C) A round barrow approximately 28.0 metres in diameter
and up to 1.4 metres high centrally positioned on the natural E-W
ridge.
(B) No change.
SS60084389 (A) 3.0 metre high stnading stone - well preserved.
Re-surveyed at 1:2500. (7)
SS600439. Standing stone on Mattocks Down 370 yds west of Higher
Mattocks Farm. Scheduled "No 915" (amended to No. 195).
SS 602439. Two roundbarrows 300 yds south west of Long Lane
Cottage. Scheduled No. 639. (8)
('A'-SS 6008 4388) Standing Stone (NR)
('B'-SS 6012 4393; 'C'-SS 60114389; 'D'-SS 60044390) Tumuli (NR) (9)
|