More information : (TF 12117069) Tumulus (OE). (1)
King's Hill, traditionally the burial place of King Aethelred,
of Mercia (died AD 704). (2-3)
Published survey 1:2500 resurveyed. (4)
A large grass covered mound with a central depression adjacent to a
track and surrounded by plough in which there are tracks of a non-
surveyable surrounding ditch; the feature has been dug into on the
east. The size, topographical situation and general appearance
suggest it to be a mill mound. No evidence was found to support the
traditional Dark Ages burial. AM survey of 19-8-64 correct. The mound
is now closely ploughed, round, and its relationship to surrounding
ridge and furrow destroyed. Doubts have been raised about the
traditional interpretation and the suggestion advanced that the mound
was a form of rabbit warren. The `coneygarth close' was part of the
abbey's demesne in the 16th century and the field name Coney Green
lay to the east of the monastic precinct. (5)
TF 1211 7069. `King's Hill'. alleged Anglo-Saxon barrow popularly
but implausibly associated with Oswald, King of Northumbria, d.642 or
more commonly Aethelred of Mercia, d.704 having abdicated to become
abbot of Bardney Abbey. The relics of both, together with those of
Oswald's sister Ostryth, lay within the monastery church, Oswald's at
least elaborately embellished until his removal to Gloucester in
909. The mound formerly stood at the junction of two footpaths, one
E-W called King's Hill Road leading to Abbey Farm and one probably
marking the course of an early road to Lincoln from Bardney: the
close to the SW was called King's Hill Close. It is now closely
ploughed round and its relationship to surrounding ridge and furrow
destroyed. It was opened by the excavators at Bardney Abbey in 1912:
the only finds reported were four unassociated pieces of human skull
and there were said to be signs of earlier more unscientific
excavations. The mound is said in the early 19th century to have
been topped by a cross. Doubts have been raised about the
traditional interpretation and the suggestion advanced that the mound
was a form of rabbit warren, with confusion arising from the words
`coney' and `cuning'. `The coneygarth close' was part of the abbey's
demesne in the 16th century and the field name Coney Green lay to the
E of the monastic precinct.
TF 121 707. King's Hill barrow. Scheduled no. LI/286. (6)
The earthwork mound described by previous authorities at
TF 1211 7069, is possibly a Post Medieval prospect mound associated
with a carriageway or walkway that lies to the west (see in TF 17 SW
7). These features are possibly part of a Post Medieval formal garden
associated with a Post Medieval house (see TF 17 SW 18) on the site
of Bardney Abbey, which lies to the west of the mound and
carraigeway.
(Morph No. LI.577.8.1)
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database.
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