Dunley Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles

Giant's Cave Long Barrow [Map]. Historic England

The monument includes a chambered long barrow set on the floor of a valley immediately north of a tributary of the River Avon. The barrow mound is orientated east-west and is trapezoidal in plan. It has maximum dimensions of 56m in length, is 26m wide and 2.5m high. Limestone slabs on the surface of the mound at the eastern end represent the chambers of what was a laterally chambered tomb of the Cotswold-Severn group. Hollows and a spoil heap towards the centre of the mound represent an early exploration of the site although no details are known. Although no longer visible at ground level, quarry ditches run parallel to the north and south sides of the barrow mound. These have become infilled over the years but survive as buried features c.3m wide.

On 29th April 1908 Thomas Graham Smith died of his burn injuries when he fell while carrying a lighted candle and set his clothes on fire. Asquith (age 55) attended the inquest at Easton Grey.

Fosse Way. After Batheaston the Fosse Way continues along Bannerdown Road [Map] where it curves around Solsbury Hill, Somerset [Map] to reach the high ground where the road straightens out passing Three Shires Stone [Map], Fosse Gate, Wiltshire [Map], crossing the Gloucestershire River Avon 1.2km south-west of Easton Grey [Map] before reaching the Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire [Map] after which it travels to Corinium Dobunnorum [Map] aka Cirencester.

The Beauties of Wiltshire:Luckington. LUCKINGTON.—About seven miles to the west of Malmesbury is situated the village of Luckington or Lockington, near which rises the principal branch of the river Avon. The parish consists of about 1200 acres. Two manors, denominated "Lochintone," occur in the Domesday survey of Wiltshire, one of which was held by Durand de Gloucester, and before the Conquest, had been the property of King Harold. The other belonged to Ralph de Mortemer, the proprietor of Hullavington, Alderton, In the reign of Henry the Fourth, Richard de St. Maur, or Seymour, died seised of the lordship. His son Richard left an only daughter, who married William, Lord Zouche, of Haringworth, whose son inherited the honours and estates of his maternal ancestors.

In this parish, between the village and Badminton, is a tumulus called Long-barrow [Giant's Cave Long Barrow [Map]], in which are some Caves, said to be nine in number. They are formed of long stones set upon their sides, with other broader stones on the top. According to Aubrey, they were accidentally discovered about the year 1646. Spurs and fragments of armour have been found in or near these caves, which have hence been supposed to be the graves of warriors slain in battle. Sir R. C. Hoare says, "From the experience I have lately had in similar antiquities, I can with safety pronounce this to have been a long barrow with a kistvaen, (as at Lugbury [Map],) placed at the east end; and it is very probable that the oblong stone inclosures on the sides of the barrow may have also been appropriated to sepulchral purposes¹." In 1809, another barrow was levelled, and found to contain the remains of several human skeletons.

Note 1. Ancient Wiltshire, Roman Æra," p. 102.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1913 V38 Pages 379-414. Luckington. 1. "Giant's Caves [Map]." Length 123ft. 1; E. and W. Chambered. Apparently rifled at some unknown period and the cists or chambers left uncovered. This barrow now appears as a mere untidy shapeless heap in a grass field, covered with bushes; there are several large stones placed edgeways, half buried in the ground, that appear to be the ruins of at least three chambers; one of these, oblong in shape, seems to be fairly complete except for any covering stones it may have had. O.M. 12 NW.; A. W. II. 101—2 (quotes Aubrey and Childrey); Arch. xlii. 203.