More information : (SD 90063373) Tumulus (NR). (1)
(SD 90063374) Cairn Circle (NR). (2)
A small stone circle five yards in diameter at Delph Hill
Pasture, Hellclough-head, (SD 900337) consisting of 'rock
pillars' standing about 18 inches above the surface of which
five remain, was excavated by Mr Spencer. The excavation
revealed two upright urns with slate lids containing cremations,
two feet beneath the surface in the centre of the circle protected
by a rock pile. (3)
'A mound (about 26 chains) southwest of Inclosures on Extwistle
Moor was found on being opened to contain ancient British vases'.
Two of these vases in a good state of preservation were carried
away by Mr Spencer of Halifax, but R J Parker Esq of Cuerden
Hall, Preston, caused him to return them; they are now at Mr
Parkers seat at Cuerden. (4)
Prominently situated on the grassy summit of Delph Hill at
SD 90063373 the remains of this feature are now visible as
five small stones (See enlargement). Three of them ('A' 'B' &
'C') are earth fast and two ('D' & 'E') probably part of the
original circle, are laid on the turf. There are several smaller
and loose stones around the area but non can conclusively be
said to be part of the circle. The diameter between the centres
of stones 'A' and 'C' is 5.0 m. The stones are free standing
and there has been no attempt at banking them. The interior is
mainly turf covered earth and appears to be formed of a very
slight central mound (0.2m maximum height and about 2.4 m
diameter) with a shallow circular depression (hardly a ditch,
no more than 0.2 m deep and about 1.0 m wide) barely discernible
surrounding it. A roughly rectangular hollow area, probably
the remains of the excavation, measuring about 0.7 m east to
west by 0.6 m wide and 0.2 m maximum depth, has been dug
approximately central to this low mound and the debris dumped to
the north northwest. Because the remains of this feature are
so ill-defined it is difficult to be precise about its true
nature but it would appear to have taken the form of central
cremations covered by a low circular mound (formed from earth
scraped up forming a shallow 'ditch') all surrounded by a
circle of free standing earthfast stones originally six in
number.
Surveyed at 1:10 000 (Enlargements at 1:125) (5)
SD 900337. Delf Hill Stone Circle. Scheduled. (6)
SD 9006 3372. Small stone circle on Delf Hill. Scheduled RSM No
23719. (7)
Listed as a stone circle by Burl (8) and also by Barnatt (9), who provides a summary of previous work at the site, described by him as comprising 6 stones, between 0.3m and 0.6m long, surrounding a low mound. He also notes that in 1842, 5 stones were reported standing, whereas in 1874, 7 are referred to, suggesting that the earlier account may have omitted fallen stones. (8, 9) |