Mellington Hill Mound

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameMellington Hill Mound
Alternative NamesBoot Hill
Historic CountryMontgomeryshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityChurchstoke

Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust record of ? motte reads 'Mound some 27m diameter and 2m high (max) with flat top some 11m diameter. Possible ditch noted (CPAT site visit 1978).

The monument comprises the remains of a earthen built round barrow, which probably date to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC) and stand in a prominent position on the summit of Mellington Hill. The barrow measures 27m in diameter and 2m high. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices. The features are an important relic of a prehistoric funerary and ritual landscape and retain significant archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of both intact ritual and burial deposits, together with environmental and structural evidence. Barrows may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is a circle with a radius of 16m, centred on the cairn. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Probably a barrow but noted as possible motte by CPAT site visit 1978. Disturbed by sheep burials.' Site has a fine view of a crossroads on the Kerry Ridgeway. Probably too exposed to be a site of habitation but a faint possibility of being a 'taxation point' type castle. Site shows the dangers facing such monuments. Even fairly ancient mounds of earth are easier digging than natural soil but why a local farmer felt the need to bury sheep, in an scheduled monument, is an open question.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO247896
Latitude52.4999008178711
Longitude-3.10996007919312
Eastings324740
Northings289690
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Journals

  • Emmett, D.D., 1978, 'Powys Sites and Monuments Surveys' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 18 p. 40-2

Other

  • Gibson, A.M., 1998, Prehistoric Funerary & Ritual Sites: Upper Severn Valley (CPAT report)