Monument record 5838/0/1 - Possible Bronze Age Bowl Barrow or medieval/post-medieval windmill mound, Lower Thorpe Farm

A mound 20m in diameter and 0.7m high with slight traces of a ditch, which has been interpreted as either a Bronze Age barrow or a windmill, or possibly a barrow re-used as a windmill

{1} Lower Thorpe bowl barrow lies 200m to the east of Lower Thorpe Farm and 500m to the north east of Thorpe Mandeville village. This Bronze Age bowl barrow is located on the brow of a hill and can be seen standing as a prominent round mound which is one metre high in the centre and has an overall diameter of 25m. There are traces of a ditch about 2.5m wide on the western side. On the other sides the ditch has been levelled by ploughing but is visible on aerial photographs. It is recorded that in 1806 this field was called Windmill Ground, and it is possible that the barrow was reused as a windmill mound in more recent times.

{2} Probably the site of a post mill. Depression around the mound results from mill use. Slight depression in top of mound. Colour slide 7345/004.

{3} The mound is 20m in diameter and 0.7m high with slight traces of a ditch. It is surrounded by ridge and furrow but as it has been ploughed over in recent times it is no longer possible to be certain whether the ridges pass under or around the mound. The field in which it stands was known as Windmill Ground in 1806. It has been interpreted elsewhere as a round barrow but it more likely to be a windmill mound.

{5} Aerial photo NCCAP:SP5345/001.

{6} Field name: Windmill Ground.

{9} SP 53704546. Discovered during field investigation. A mound under pasture with a maximum diameter of 20.0m and a height of 0.7m; a surrounding slight non-surveyable ditch is visible particularly on the east flank. Located on the crest of a spur about 160.0 above sea level, its isolated position (no access roads/tracks are visible on OS air photographs (a), and general appearance suggest it to be a bowl barrow rather than a mill mound.
CRO maps consulted; no informative information.
Surveyed on 1:2500 MSD.

<1> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1992, Scheduling notification, (checked) (Correspondence). SNN51775.

<2> Cadman, G.E., 1991, Thorpe Mandeville: Lower Thorpe Farm - Site Inspection Notes, (checked) (Report). SNN9864.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.148/Site 9 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP54NW14 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Northamptonshire SMR Collection of Aerial Photographs, (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN104822.

<6> 1806, Thorpe Mandeville Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN9834.

<7> Cadman, G.E., 1991, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50258.

<8> OS 25 INCH MAP, (unchecked) (Map). SNN9853.

<9> Seaman, B H, 1977, Field Investigators Comments, F1 BHS 12-MAY-77 (Notes). SNN115519.

<10> Aerial Photograph, Air Photographs (OS/75311 fr.412-414) (Photographs). SNN112974.

<11> Royal Air Force, Vertical Aerial Photography, Air Photographs (RAF CPE/UK/1994, 1026-7) (Photographs). SNN104890.

Record last edited

Oct 12 2023 3:20PM