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.
Details
The monument includes Parley Barrow, a bowl barrow on the corner of Ellesfield
Drive and Druid's Close, one of a dispersed group of barrows on the former
heathland on Parley Common. The barrow has a mound, 32m in diameter and 2.5m
high, surrounded by a quarry ditch, from which material was excavated during
its construction. This has become infilled over the years but survives as a
buried feature c.3m wide. A second barrow c.45m to the south east was
destroyed over 25 years ago prior to the construction of the housing estate
and is not included in the scheduling. All fence posts, pavements, road and
drive surfaces and built garden structures are excluded from the scheduled
area although the ground beneath these features has been included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
27478
Legacy System:
RSM
End of official list entry
