IVINGHOE BEACON FROM PITSTONE HILL
Ivinghoe Beacon
I thought i'd start local to me, luckily site is on my doorstep!
Ivinghoe Beacon Hill Fort....
Ivinghoe Beacon is associated with the Iron age but there is evidence that man has been associated with it from at least the Neolithic. The Icknield way passes along it's side and in 2000 geophiz results showed possible evidence of a Neolithic Curcus and associated enclosure within the fort.
On the ridge between the Beacon and Gallows hill there is a bronze age cemetery, consisting of at least nine barrow's and possibly more ploughed out barrows that havn't been found yet.
The hillfort seem's to have occupied the entire summit of the hill, forming a rough triangular enclosure made up of a single rampart and ditch. Archaeolgical evidence indicates it was a simple box frame structure faced with timber and infilled with chalk rubble. There are also signs of other banks and ditches outside the main defensive ring. The entrance was on the eastern side facing Gallows hill.
The date of the hill fort has been suggested by some Archaeologists as being between 750-600BC, others have said although it may have been occupied at these date's, the ramparts may not have been put up until between 500 to 400BC. Archaeogical finds from this site show everday occupation. Sheep and cattle bones, pottery, spindle whorls, loom weights, bone needles, twin edged razor and even a pair of bronze tweezers! There is also evidence of possible small scale metal working as there was some small 'cakes' of metal found.
GRIM'S DITCH
Grim's Ditch...
Grim's ditch is a discontinous series of dykes running for about 15 miles between Bradenham and Incombe hill, a section can be seen clearly on Pitstone hill. Pottery sherds seem to indicate that it dates to the Iron age, but possible named by the Saxons, who often use the word Grim to describe something they didn't understand. There are some suggestion that it was a defensive structure but it's more likely a boundry marker, possibly marking the boundry of the Belgic tribe from the late Iron age.
Pitstone Hill...
Pitstone hill has a part of Grim's ditch running along the side of it, see above and possibly evidence of Neolithic flint mines near to the dyke. Seven Saxon warriors were found in a common grave on top of the hill, showing how turbulant the times could be.
Icknield Way...
The Icknield way is an ancient trackway believed to be Neolithic which runs between East Anglia and Wessex, passing round the side of Ivinghoe Beacon. The trackway links industrial centre's such as Grimes Graves to cultral centre's such as Avbury. The track splits in two near the Beacon, the Upper Icknield way (used in the wet months when the lower path became water logged) and the Lower Icknield way. In Roman times part of the track was Romanised and a Romano british settlement has been identified along it's route near to the present B488. The Icknield way was probably named after the 'Iceni' Iron age tribe from eastern England.
Other nearby area's of interest....
Berkhampstead Castle
A motte and bailey castle built for Robert of Mortain shortly after the Norman invasion. Originally built in wood which was replaced with flint and hard chalk walls it also is the only castle in Britain with a double moat and ditch. The motte, moat and some of the bailey walls still survive. The outer gateway was destroyed by the building of the railway line.
Ashridge
An Augustian monastary was formed at Ashridge in 1283. After the reformation Henry VIII and his three children took up residence, and it was used by Edward and Elizabeth for 15 years, between them they owned it for about 40 years.
Pitstone Windmill
Possibly the oldest surviving post mill with the date 1627 carved into the woodwork, but could be even older. In a freak storm in 1902 it was extensivly damaged. It has since been restored and on completion of the restoration in 1970 they milled corn with it.
PITSTONE WINDMILL
