Monument record MDO1237 - Two mounds, Hilfield

Two grass-covered mounds at ST 64000692 traditionally barrows (a) but thought by the farmer to be agricultural. <1>

Two grass-covered mounds divided by a disused, shallow hollow-way, situated within a nearly level pasture field. The eastern mound measures, in diameter, 17.0m north-south by 14.5m transversely and is 0.7m high. It is flat-topped. There are faint traces of a possible ditch around the east and south sides. The western mound measures, in diameter, 17.5m north - south by 9.5m transversely and is 0.5m in height. The mound 'tails off' noticeably towards the north. A ridge, crossed by the hollow-way, links the two mounds and is about 0.2m high but is below the level of the field to either side. The mounds are unlikely to have been parts of a former single mound. This is ruled out by the hollow way, which extends from the south west corner to the north west corner of the field, a distance of some 150.0m. The western mound is almost without doubt a spoil heap, but not material taken from the eastern mound which shows no surface evidence of having been dug into but is an oval, compact mound. The eastern mound has the general appearance of a round barrow but it may equally well be another spoil heap. Only excavation would tell. Surveyed at 1:2500 on AM. <2>

Both the mounds and associated ditches are visible on recent LiDAR imagery as extant earthworks. <3>

<1> Quinnell, N V, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 09-SEP-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<1.1> Cockburn, M, 1955, Oral: Mrs M Cockburn, owner of Hilfield Manor, Hillfield 8.9.55 (Verbal communication). SDO17395.

<2> Phillips, A S, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments ASP, F1 ASP 04-NOV-77 (Unpublished document). SWX3817.

<3> Historic England, National Record of the Historic Environment (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<3> Environment Agency, 2022, LiDAR Composite Viewer - Digital Terrain Model 1m (Aerial Photograph). SDO21777.

<4> Historic England, National Record of the Historic Environment, 198835 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 23 2026 9:47AM