Crippets Long Barrow: the original Capital of the Cotswolds?

Right on the edge of the Cotswolds, not far from the famous Crickley Hill Camp, is a little visited ancient monument, Crippets Long Barrow, that in its day must have been of immense significance yet today is little regarded – and all because of some trees – not the ones actually on it but the ones planted near to it.

Which is a shame, because as landscape art goes, it’s quite an achievement…

The trees that are on it were planted in the late nineteenth century ostensibly to protect it, but now that they are mature it’s a very moot point whether that are doing that …

But these are the trees that have truly “damaged” the monument, the belt that was planted in front of it, probably at the same time, and which would have seemed harmless at the time but have now matured and locked the barrow away from the very reason it was buit there, the amazing view it points towards…

And this is the view the builders intended. Has there ever been a more magnificent resting place in the history of these islands?

The arrow indicates the position of the barrow, hidden behind the belt of trees and shielded fom the truly remarkable 60 mile panorama, surely one of the finest in England,  right across the West Midlands and into Wales. The significance of the spot has been entirely lost in modern times and it is a reasonable assumption that had the trees not been planted  a little over a hundred years ago then far from being half-forgotten this would be one of the most celebrated and visited of monuments – and not just by prehistory enthusiasts.

North Wales: Illegal off-road operation – bike seizures

North Wales Police have seized three off-road motorbikes during an operation to clamp down on the illegal use of off-road vehicles in the Dee Valley and surrounding mountains.  More here.

The Heather and Hillforts staff were also involved in this operation carried out on the 30th January of this year.  Our previous articles have shown badly scarred paths traversing the Moel y Gaer mountain and hillfort.

Update on HA article

Britain may pull out of UNESCO

“Britain is threatening to withdraw its support for the United Nations agency responsible for designating world heritage sites such as Stonehenge after a government review found it unable to justify the millions it receives from British taxpayers.”

More here – http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/news/UK-pull-funding-heritage-sites/article-3274100-detail/article.html