More information : [Centred at SJ 5665 6705] Seven Lows [OE] (Site of)
[T.I.] (1)
The Seven Lows are situated at the end of a natural lake known
as the Fish Pool. (2)
A second (No. 6) tumulus was destroyed in 1845. It covered an
urn, containing bones, inverted on a stone floor which showed
signs of fire. (3)
The site was visited in 1952, there are slight indications of
seven mounds, inlcuding one at the site omitted by the O.S. the
isolated tumulus is one of two others seen by Shone (in 1907?) of
which there is no trace. (4)
Two of the barrows are in good condition and the sites of four
others, including the additional one mentioned by Webster, were
identified and surveyed.
The isolated barrow situated at SJ 56336703, which is evidently
not one of the Seven Lows, is in fair condition. No other was
found in its vicinity. (5)
Field report and survey of 1961 checked and still correct. The
three East of the road were under plough, each being marked by a
patch of lighter soil. (6)
The three extant round barrows have been further reduced in height
by ploughing, but are at present under grass.
Published 1:2500 survey, 1964, correct. (7)
Seven Lows depicted on plan of the forest of Delamere. (8)
The Seven Lows.
'The Seven Lows are a cluster of seven earthern mounds (there
are two others close by) which overlook a dry valley south of
Delamere. They were known to John Leyland, the antiquary, who in
the 16th century described them as 'the works of men of Warre!
Early in the 19th century one of the mounds was removed to form
the adjacent road; another had been opened some time earlier. In
1845 a third mound was quarried, revealing a cremation contained
within a collared urn inverted on a flat stone near the perimeter.
Sandstone rubble formed part of the makeup of the mound. Although
that barrow was said to have stood 6ft (1.8m) high, all are now
reduced to slight circular rises in the ground' (9)
A. SJ 5660567081 (FCE) SAM 59a
No field evidence was found for this barrow. The area is under
improved pasture and has been much disturbed by cattle trample
and removal of hedgerows.
This barrow was recognised by Ormerod. (Authy 2) Shown on map of
1813. (Authy 8)
B. SJ 5669267092 (FCE) SAM 59b
This is the best preserved barrow of the cemetery measuring 20m
in diameter with a height of about 1.5m. It has a cattle watering
trough set on top of it, which has resulted on some damage to
the top of the mound. It lies in an area of improved pasture.
This barrow was recognised by Ormerod 1819. (Auth 2)
Shown on map of 1813. (Auth 8)
C. SJ 5671567026 SAM 59c
This barrow measures 20m in diameter and stands to a height of
0.5m. The top of the mound has been desturbed by cattle trample
and the insertion of a telegraph pole on its NE site. It lies
on a field of improved pasture.
This barrow was recognised by Ormerod 1819. (Auth 2) Shown on
map of 1813. (Auth 8)
D. SJ 5664867112 SAM 59d
No field evidence was found for this barrow. The area indicated
is cut to the south and west by a farm track. The site of the
barrow lies across the line of a former farm track leading to a
gate on the fence. It lies in a pasture field.
This barrow was recognised by Ormerod 1819. (Auth 2) Shown on map
of 1813. (Auth 8)
E. SJ 5667267107 SAM 59e
The site indicated for this barrow is cut to the east by the
B5152 and by a farm track to the south. No field evidence was
found for this barrow.
Recognised by Ormerod 1819. (Auth 2)
Shown on map of 1813. (Auth 8)
F. SJ 5633567035 SAM 59f
The site of this bazrow is now under plough, and the barrow has
timber-lined wells with pottery finds giving dates of the late 1st
height of 0.3m. The area of the barrow was indicated on the
ground by a soil change of a lighter brown soil, no artefacts
were found. The scarps of the barrow survived although ploughed
down.
G. SJ 5660866990 SAM 59g
The site indicated for this barrow is under plough, no artefacts
were found in the area. A possible defining ditch to the barrow
was suggested to the east but was lost on the natural contour to
the north and was unportrayable.
H. SJ 5671366992 SAM 59h
No field evidence was found for the location of their barrow.
Shown on map of 1813. (Auth 8)
Urn + bones found in 1845. (Auth 3)
No change to existing surveys (10)
SJ 5665 6711. CH/59d & e are DeScheduled.
SJ 5661 6698. CH/59g is DeScheduled. (11)
SJ 5659 6708. Bowl barrow 30m SW of Fishpool Lane Farm. Scheduled
RSM No 23616 (formerly 59a). A slightly oval earthen mound up to
0.4m high with max dimensions of 18m x 16m.
SJ 5633 6703. Bowl barrow 300m WSW of Fishpool Lane Farm. Scheduled
RSM No 23617 (formerly 59f). A slightly oval earthen mound up to
0.3m high with max dimensions of 22m x 20m.
SJ 5669 6709. Bowl barrow 70m E of Fishpool Lane Farm. Scheduled
RSM No 23644 (formerly 59b). A circular earthen mound 25m in diameter
and up to 1.3m high. A water trough is located on the barrow's
summit.
SJ 5671 6702. Bowl barrow 120m SE of Fishpool Lane Farm. Scheduled
RSM No 23650 (formerly 59c). An earthen mound 20m in diameter and
up to 1m high with an erosion hollow approx 2m across at the centre.
A telegraph pole is located on the barrow's E side.
SJ 5671 6698. Bowl barrow 140m SE of Fishpool Lane Farm. Scheduled
RSM No 23651 (formerly 59h). An earthen mound 20m in diameter and
up to 0.2m high. During partial 19th century quarrying of the barrow
an urn containing bones was found inverted on a flat stone. The urn
had a rim 2ft 7ins in circumference and stood 13ins high, with an
impressed cord decoration and hatched triangles alternately upright
and inverted on the collar. Fragments of charcoal were also found.
(12)
The site was the subject of geophysical survey in April 2012 and excavation in August 2012 which focused on the now descheduled barrow (SJ 5661 6698. CH/59g) as part of the Habitats and Hillforts Project. Resistivity survey successfully identifed the barrow along with part of a circular bank that seemed to surround it. This makes the monument morphologically consistent with a saucer barrow. The subsequent excavation confirmed the presence of an outer bank and excavation of the barrow itself uncovered a number of pit features and four collared urns. An assemblage of burnt flint was also found scattered across the site suggesting it was a focal point for mesolithic flint manufacture. (13-14)
The site was mapped from historic verical photography and lidar imagery as part of the 'Cheshire Aerial Investigation and Mapping Project: the Chester environs' in 2019. This project identified and mapped the now descheduled saucer barrow (SJ 5661 6698. CH/59g) as earthworks and parchmarks. It also identified a probable barrow visible as soilmarks in historic vertical photography at SJ 5657 6708 that has not previously been observed. This feature appears to be depicted on the OS One Inch (1843) mapping. The site is extant on the latest 2018 vertical photography. (15-16) |