Monument record BRD 123 - White Hill, Brandon Park

Bell barrow known as White Hill, a very large round mound with a raised berm and surrounding wide ditch (S3). It is cut through the centre by a forest ride (after early 1900s mapping but before 1946 - RAF AP) but still survives to circa 2m high above ride and 3m high above area outside ditch. The central mound is c.50-60m diameter, with a berm of c.20- 25m between the mound and shallow (c.1m deep) ditch which is c.15m wide. The overall diameter from outside of ditch is c.135m. It was first mapped as mound in 1990? (S1).

1995: The only 2 finds from disturbed (by cycles etc) the core material were 1 flint core & 1 worked flint, both of prehistoric date (S2).
It is defined as a wooded circular area within a mainly wooded area on the 1838 tithe and 1891 (1:2500) maps (S2)(S3), and is named White Hill (plantation) in 1838 tithe apportionment (S4). The trees (which would rapidly mask earthwork) were probably planted in 1820s (see BRD 091), suggesting the earthworks predate the creation of Brandon Park (in early C19?) as does site name - White possibly derived from OE for well drained soil (?). Alternatively the name could be derived from Wihtgar, who Munday associates with a cross, later known as 'High Cross Hill', situated somewhere on the road from Brandon to Wangford and close to the site of Livermere Grange (WNG 023). See BRD Misc for this entry.

December 1998: Scheduled as Bell Barrow. Details in (S5).

2008: In notes from Warden Abbey Cartulary c. 1175 Hugo de Wangford associated with lands that lie next to Wigatus's Cross (S6). Possibly a round (bell) barrow though would be the largest known example in Britain.

Also see WNG Misc (MSF7819) for reference to a rifled 'Keltic tumulus' on Wangford Warren near Brandon.