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Saturday, February 23, 2019

SKIP TRAILER

In today's episode of diamond geezer we'll be visiting a Bronze Age barrow in the heart of southeast London, discovering more about its fascinating history and asking what the future holds for this extraordinary suburban survivor.

"Round barrows are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC."

"The barrow takes its name from Shrewsbury House, to the east, built in 1789 for the Earl of Shrewsbury, a descendant of Bess of Hardwick."
Stay with us for Shrewsbury Tumulus.

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Episode 7819: Shrewsbury Tumulus

Welcome to Shrewsbury Tumulus.

Today we're in the heart of the London borough of Greenwich on the northern flanks of Shooters Hill. At the junction of Plum Lane and Brinklow Crescent is a small circular area behind iron railings, within which is a large grassy mound of earth. But what is it, what could it have been used for and how is it connected to both the Bronze Age and an 18th century Earl?

This unassuming earthen mound in the heart of southeast London has been here on this exact site for around four thousand years. It's one of a set of six funerary monuments otherwise known as round barrows, although not all of the six survive. Round barrows are funerary monuments dating from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age, with most examples belonging to the period 2400-1500 BC.

This barrow is understood to be the last surviving example from a group of six. It stands on the high ground of Shooters Hill, and is approximately 25m wide and 1.5m high. Running across the front is a lane called Plum Lane, and immediately behind are the houses of Brinklow Crescent. Shrewsbury Tumulus lies on the precise site where numbers 96 and 98 Brinklow Crescent ought to have been built, and yet they never were.

Later we'll investigate why the builders changed their minds, and how the barrow gained its name.

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Earlier we discovered a round barrow in the heart of southeast London. But is there more to this story than meets the eye?

Barrows are often grouped together forming cemeteries, and the barrow at Shooters Hill is the last surviving of a group of six. Three of these are known to have formed a linear group. The location of these prehistoric burials is on a small plateau of gravel within an area of London Clay, on high ground that meant the burial mounds would have been visible on the sky-line from the lower ground towards the River Thames. It is no longer possible to see Shrewsbury Tumulus from the Thames because of houses.

The barrow takes its name from Shrewsbury House, to the east, built in 1789 for the Earl of Shrewsbury, a descendant of Bess of Hardwick. It was demolished prior to 1935 to make way for the large Laing and Shrewsbury Park housing estates slightly further up the hill. Four of the other six barrows are believed to have been built upon during this period, the precise location of the last being unknown.

The surviving barrow was not in the grounds of Shrewsbury House but in the garden of Tower House across the lane. Tower House was also demolished and yet this barrow was not, which is why it survived. Three of the lost barrows were located to the north and west of Ashridge Crescent. Even though Ashridge Crescent is now part of the Shrewsbury Park Conservation Area, the barrows were not conserved. Planning rules were not so strict in the 1930s.

Stay with us to discover whether Shrewsbury Tumulus still has secrets left to reveal.

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We're exploring Shrewsbury Tumulus, a burial mound in the heart of southeast London. But what exactly was it?

The barrow known as Shrewsbury Tumulus stood within the grounds of the Tower House, a 19th century residence which no longer stands. Maps from the time show it illustrated with a ring of trees, only some of which remain. The surrounding area is now heavily built up, and Tower House itself is long gone, and yet the burial mound survives. But what was it exactly?

At this time of year the earthen mound is mostly grass, plus a few leaves left over from autumn scattered on top. But look carefully and you'll see that if you come back next month there will be a host of daffodils here. These flowers are not original but have been planted since, so do not reveal any further revelations about the secrets of the burial mound. So what was it exactly?

Greenwich Council have placed an interpretation panel at the site which notes that the barrow has at some stage been partially excavated, but this activity was not documented. Unless a further excavation is undertaken, which seems unlikely, we are no closer to knowing the secrets of this extraordinary suburban survivor. The Shrewsbury Tumulus remains a mystery with a fascinating history in the heart of southeast London.

Next time on diamond geezer we'll be asking what links Tummy Kom4ort, the Tudorbethan avenues of Metroland and a clock whose hands are stuck at noon. Join us tomorrow for more extraordinary suburban secrets.

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