Barrowfield, Great Amwell

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameBarrowfield, Great Amwell
Alternative NamesGallows Plain
Historic CountryHertfordshire
Modern AuthorityHertfordshire
1974 AuthorityHertfordshire
Civil ParishHertford

Mound 10' high and 150' round, no trace of burial on excavation (Renn 1971).

Although slightly disturbed by the construction of a golf bunker, the bowl barrow near Gallows Plain is of large size and has never been excavated. It contains archaeological and environmental evidence relating both to the monument and to the landscape in which it was constructed.

The monument includes a bowl barrow situated east of Hertford, on the crest of a hill overlooking the River Lea. The hemispherical earth mound measures 40m east-west by 46m north-south and is c.1.6m high. The north side of the barrow has been slightly disturbed by the construction of a bunker on the former golf course. Although no longer visible, a ditch, from which material was excavated for the construction of the monument, surrounds the barrow mound. This has been infilled over the years but survives as a buried feature c.2m wide. (Scheduling Report)

On the East Herts Golf Course, in a commanding position above the Lea Valley, there is a large barrow measuring 40.0m east-west, 46.0m north-south and 1.6m high. Although of a bowl shape, it has been spread and mutilated by a bunker on the lower northern slopes. There is no visible ditch. The field-name 'Barrow Field' is very significant. A beacon probably occupied the site in the 16th century (F1 CFW 08-AUG-60).

This area has been developed for housing but the barrow has been preserved, untouched, within a concrete fence (F2 JRL 10-DEC-75). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

Questionable castle site was an isolated mound, although now within modern suburb. Nothing on old maps suggest this a a focus of medieval occupation. Marked Tumulus on modern OS map. Was in a detached part of Great Amwell parish but now in Hertford CP.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTL347131
Latitude51.8004112243652
Longitude-0.0472000017762184
Eastings534750
Northings213110
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Renn, D.F., 1971, Medieval Castles in Hertfordshire (Chichester: Phillimore) p. 13 (Doubtful)
  • RCHME, 1910, An inventory of the historical monuments in Hertfordshire (London: HMSO) p. 95 no. 6 online transcription

Journals

  • Isaacson, S., 1848, Journal of the British Archaeological Association Vol. 3 p. 324-5 online copy