Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 359490
Hob Uid: 359490
Location : Hertfordshire Dacorum Great Gaddesden
Grid Ref : TL0533012420
Summary : Golden Parsonage mound, C19th garden feature.
More information : (TL 05331242) Tumulus (NR).(1) "A curious small artificial mound or tumulus" at Golden Parsonage. This has been opened up but was found to contain nothing. Its origin is unknown. (2,3) Listed by Dyer (4) as a possible Saxon barrow, called "Golden Lowe" in the 12th century, quoting Grinsell (5) as authority. However, Grinsell makes no connection between "Golden Lowe" and the mound at Golden Parsonage and there appears to be no justification for Dyer's assertion. "Golden Lowe" appears to have been situated in the Dunstable area (6). (See also TL 01 NW 13). (4-6) A mound, planted with large beech tree and measuring 25.0m in diameter and 3.5m in height. Its extreme height in relation to its diameter suggests that it is not a burial mound but more likely a landscape feature or Belvedere associated with Golden Parsonage (18th century) from which it is visible. No finds have been made and the name "Golden Lowe" is not known to the landowner. Published survey (25") revised. (7) TL 055125. Listed as a doubtful castle mound. (8) Mound excavated early September 1981, when a trench measuring 0.75m by 11.6m long was dug along the NW side. The excavation went down to below the old buried land surface and the finds made such as clay pipe stem and pieces of coal from the buried land surface beneath the mound prove conclusively that it was constructed during the mid-nineteenth century. (9) TL 05341242. Further excavation in 1984 to test the hypothesis that the mound may cover an ice house disproved this idea, but confirmed the mid-C19th date for the feature. (10)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : OS 6" 1901
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : VCH Herts 2 1908 205
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : RCHM Herts 1910 102
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : Arch J 116 1959 19 (J F Dyer)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : Anc Burial Mounds of Eng 1952 110 (L V Grinsell)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : EPNS Beds & Hunts 1926 120 (A Mawer & F M Stenton)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details : F1 NKB 08-MAR-72
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 8
Source :
Source details : Md Castles Herts 1971 16 (D Renn)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 9
Source :
Source details : Herts Past 12 1982 30-33 plans (N Doggett & J Hunn)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 10
Source :
Source details : Hertfordshire Past 22 1987 29. (Doggett N and Hunn J)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Post Medieval
Monument End Date : 1901
Monument Start Date : 1540
Monument Type : Belvedere
Evidence :

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TL 01 SE 2
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1800-01-01
End Date : 1899-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1972-03-08
End Date : 1972-03-08

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1981-01-01
End Date : 1981-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1984-01-01
End Date : 1984-12-31

Historic England Research Records

Monument Number 359490