Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

The Bridestones
Hob Uid: 78118
Location : Staffordshire Staffordshire Moorlands Cheshire East Congleton, Biddulph
Grid Ref : SJ9061762182
Summary : Neolithic chambered long cairn with segmented cist and cobbled forecourt, surviving as a structure. The cairn is also visible as a structure on air photographs and the visible extent of the stones was mapped as part of the Staffordshire National Mapping Programme Project. The cairn is extant on the latest 2010 vertical photography. Scheduled.
More information : [SJ 9061 6218] Bridestones [TI] Burial Chamber [NR] (1) Remains of a Neolithic chambered long barrow (4) with segmented cist. In front of the chamber is a roughly cobbled forecourt set within a curved facade of large uprights. [See plan (2)] Excavated by the Dept. of Geography of Manchester Unviersity in 1936 and 1937. (3) A Clyde - Carlingford outlier (5) (2-5) The remains are as described and illustrated. See G.P. AO/64/223/4. Published survey (25") revised. (6) (SJ 9059 6218) Bridestones (NAT) Burial Chamber (NR) (7) SJ 9059 6218. The Bridestones Neolithic chambered long cairn. The monument is located on the W flank of Cloud Hill, a ridge forming a prominent N extension of Biddulph Moor, with extensive views across the Cheshire plain to the W. The chambered tomb measures 6m x 2.7m, made of large stone slabs set on edge and divided into two by a now broken cross slab. South of the chamber's entrance is a portal stone standing 3m high while N of the entrance is a re-positioned portal stone 1.2m high. To the E of the chamber is a forecourt originally surrounded by a complete or partial circle of stones of which three survive. Limited excavation of the forecourt during the 1930s revealed cobbling which included a charcoal layer containing flint blades and a flint scraper. The long cairn covering the chamber was recorded in 1764 as being c.110m long and 11m wide. It was largely carted away for roadmaking that year. A second chamber in the centre of the mound was recorded as measuring c.2.2m square x 1m high, and a third chamber was noticed in 1766. A plan of the monument in 1766 shows four portal stones - two N and two S of the chamber's entrance. The forecourt was surrounded by six stones in semi-circular form with two conjectural stones completing the circle. Two stones stood within the circle and two stood outside the circle to the E. Scheduled (RSM) No 13500. (8) The Neolithic chambered long cairn is also visible as a structure on air photographs centred at SJ 9061 6218. The visible extent of the stones was mapped as part of the Staffordshire National Mapping Programme Project and the cairn is extant on the latest 2010 vertical photography. (9)

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Source details : OS 6" 1954.
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Prehistoric Cheshire 1940 p34 plan (W.J. Varley)
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : Trans Lancashire Cheshire Antiq Soc 53 1938 14-24 plans, photos, figs.
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : C W Phillips/31-DEC-1948/Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Record 6" Map
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Neolithic Cultures of the British Isles 1954 p181 (Stuart Piggott)
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : T P Waggot/01-MAY-1964/Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : OS 1:10000 1976
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : English Heritage SAM Amendment 01-SEP-1993
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : NMR 20940/53 09-SEP-2009
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Neolithic
Display Date : Neolithic
Monument End Date : -2200
Monument Start Date : -4000
Monument Type : Chambered Long Cairn, Forecourt
Evidence : Structure

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : CH 4
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External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 13500
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External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Staffordshire)
External Cross Reference Number : MST509
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External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SJ 96 SW 6
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Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1936-01-01
End Date : 1937-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-05-01
End Date : 1964-05-01

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 2011-01-01
End Date : 2012-12-31

Historic England Research Records

The Bridestones