NHER 5056 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Bell Hill Bronze Age round barrow

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Summary

Earthworks of an enormous Bronze Age round barrow can be seen on aerial photographs and on the ground. The mound is around 65m in diameter and at least 4m high. Legend has it that the bells from Little Cressingham church are buried within the barrow. It is one of a group of round barrows (NHER 5051, 5052, 5053, 5054, 5055 and 5057) that form a Bronze Age barrow cemetery near Hopton House.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet TL89NE
Civil Parish LITTLE CRESSINGHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

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Bell Hill.
Enormous round barrow 61m (200 feet) diameter 4.5m (15 feet) high.
R.R. Clarke (NCM).

Size difficult to assess due to erosion of edges by ploughing especially on west side, around 65m diameter, 4m high with large depression in centre and tree stumps on centre. Depression due to uprooting trees/dig? Preservation order 1976.
Tradition states that Little Cressingham church bells are buried in it.
See (S1).
A.J. Lawson (NAU), March 1976.

Flint flake found here by A.J. Lawson (NAU).
E. Rose (NAU).

September 1983 and December 1987.
No change from survey on either visit. In good order, well beyond ploughed area.
J. Wymer (NAU), December 1987.

7 August 1996. NLA air photography.
Round barrow still visible.
S. Massey (NLA), 8 November 2001.

  • --- Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TL 8698Z - AA.
  • --- Aerial Photograph: RESTRICTED: TL8698N and TL8598A, TL8698E, H, J, L, M, T.
  • --- Article in Serial: Davison, A. 1994. The Field Archaeology of Bodney and the Stanta Extension. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLII Pt I pp 57-79. p 59.
  • --- Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF241.
  • --- Designation: Corbishley, M.. 1983. AM107.
  • --- Documentary Source: Watson, A. Q. 1940. Notebook belonging to A.Q. Watson. Norfolk Museums Service.
  • --- Monograph: Lawson, A. J., Martin, E., Priddy, D. and Taylor, A. 1981. The Barrows of East Anglia. East Anglian Archaeology. No 12.
  • --- Photograph: Grinsell, L.V.. BZP TWO Bell Hill round barrow..
  • --- Photograph: HP 27, BZP 2, CXZ 12, EMC 6.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Bronze Age. Cressingham (Little).
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Neolithic. Cressingham (Little).
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 89 NE 5 [3].
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Slide: Various. Slide.
  • --- Unpublished Document: Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England. Ancient Monuments Record Form.
  • <S1> Publication: Grinsell. 1953. Ancient Burial Mounds. p.19,112,974.
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)

Record last edited

Jan 4 2022 5:13PM

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