More information : [TQ 3803 5272] CASTLE MOUND [G.T.] (1)
The Mount, Barrow Green, Oxted, is a very large bowl-shaped mound about 200 ft. in diameter and perhaps 30 ft high. On the top is a flat area about 20 ft. in diam. Its nature is very doubtful; it may be a natural rise converted to a barrow, but is believed to be very largely natural (2).
The feature was excavated in 1869 by J. Wickham Flower (3) whom, Eliza Miller (5) considers came to the too hasty conclusion that it was entirely natural. There is a distinct ditch round it and flint flakes (4) were found by the excavators. There is no natural explanation for loose sand being piled up in a circular heap upon the harder sand-stone unless for some artificial purpose (5).
Considered by Clinch and Montgomerie (6) to be a Class D earthwork, i.e. a motte. Scheduled (7), under 'Castles & Fortifications'.
The Mount, a conical mound of sand some 66.0 m. in diameter at the base and 9.0 m. in height with a flat top 5.0 m. in diameter. There is no trace of the ditch noted by Authority 4. While there can be no doubt it is almost entirely natural in its present tree covered condition it is impossible to say if it is completely so. Its proximity to the early 17th c. Barrow Green Court suggests that it might have been ornamentally scarped and perhaps heightened.
Pub 1:2500 revised. (8) |