Two barrows at Bridgewater Monument

Overview

Heritage Category: Scheduled Monument

List Entry Number: 1012406

Date first listed: 10-Jun-1992

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

National Grid Reference: SP 97038 13096

Summary

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Reasons for Designation

Bowl barrows, the most numerous form of round barrow, are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC. They were constructed as earthen or rubble mounds, sometimes ditched, which covered single or multiple burials. They occur either in isolation or grouped as cemeteries and often acted as a focus for burials in later periods. Often superficially similar, although differing widely in size, they exhibit regional variations in form and a diversity of burial practices. There are over 10,000 surviving bowl barrows recorded nationally (many more have already been destroyed), occurring across most of lowland Britain. Often occupying prominent locations, they are a major historic element in the modern landscape and their considerable variation of form and longevity as a monument type provide important information on the diversity of beliefs and social organisations amongst early prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

The bowl barrows at the Bridgewater Monument are one of only five surviving grouped examples of these monuments in Hertfordshire. As such they represent important survivals which will retain considerable potential for the preservation of archaeological and environmental evidence.

History

Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.

Details

The two Bridgewater Monument bowl barrows are situated at the south end of Moneybury Hill on Aldbury Common. The easternmost measures approximately 13m in diameter and 0.3m in height. It has a slightly hollowed centre. The second barrow is situated about 15m west of the first barrow. It measures approximately 14m in diameter and 0.4m in height. The ground between the two barrows is included in the scheduling as it is considered likely to retain archaeological evidence either contemporary with, or from prior to, the period of mound building.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number: 20619

Legacy System: RSM

Legal

This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.