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

Manningford Abbots, Wiltshire Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire North Newton, Wiltshire Rushall, Wiltshire Rybury Camp, Wiltshire Adam's Grave Alton Barnes Barrows Knap Hill Knap Hill Barrow 1 Knap Hill Barrow 2 Knap Hill Barrow 3 Devizes Castle Devizes Museum Kitchen Hill Bowl Barrow Kitchen Hill Long Barrow Martinsell Hill Fort Casterley Camp Tan Hill Barrows Tan Hill Escarpment Barrows Hatfield Barrow Roundway Hill Barrow 1 Roundway Hill Barrow 2 Roundway Hill Barrow 3 Roundway Hill Barrow 4 Roundway Hill Barrow 5 Roundway Hill Barrow 6 Roundway Hill Barrow 7

Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire is in Wiltshire.

All Cannings, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

The River Avon West, Wiltshire rises around All Cannings, Wiltshire [Map] in the Vale of Pewsey being formed from many streams from where it flows past Patney, Wiltshire [Map], around Marden Henge aka Hatfield Earthworks [Map] and Wilsford Henge [Map], Rushall, Wiltshire [Map] where it joins the River Avon East, Wiltshire to form the Wiltshire River Avon.

Rybury Camp, All Cannings, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Rybury Camp, Wiltshire is also in Iron Age Hill Forts Wiltshire, Avebury Causewayed Enclosures.

Rybury Camp, Wiltshire [Map]. English Heritage:

This monument includes a causewayed enclosure and slight univallate hillfort situated on the summit of a very steeply sloping and prominent downland ridge called Clifford's Hill. The causewayed enclosure survives as an oval interior defined by two concentric oval banks with causeways and an outer partially buried ditch with similar causeways which have been surrounded and partially overlain by the earthworks of the slight univallate hillfort. The inner rampart of the causewayed enclosure stands up to 1m high and encloses an area measuring 130m long by 100m wide. It is surrounded by a second bank which survives as a scarp of up to 2.3m high with an outer ditch of 0.2m deep and 3m wide. This second rampart encloses an inner area of approximately 180m long by 160m wide. The slight univallate hillfort is also oval in plan and surrounds the earlier earthworks on all except the north east side. It is defined by a single rampart bank of up to 1.1m high with an outer ditch of up to 1.5m deep and has a single southern entrance. The interior measures approximately 190m long by 150m wide. The whole interior and ramparts relating to both structures have been disturbed by pits associated with post medieval chalk extraction which give an overall uneven appearance. A trial trench in 1963 yielded over 600 flint flakes, a few bones and teeth. Chance finds in 1964 and 1967 included Neolithic pottery. However, the site was more fully understood following extensive field survey in 1995 when its complex development was revealed.

Tan Hill, All Cannings, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Druidical Temples in the County of Wilts Chapter X. A large fair, alike devoted to pleasure and to business, is annually held on this hill [Tan Hill, Wiltshire [Map]]. The day appropriated to the festival of Saint Anne stands in the Romish Calendar as the 26th of July, but, on the institution of the new style, it naturally fell on the 6th of August, on which day that anniversary of joy and trade, Tan Hill Fair, is now ever kept. This fair of Saint Anne, the successor nearly in name and nature (as I suppose) to the feriæ of the goddess Diana, is well I known by fame throughout the county of Wilts, whose rural population recognize as Tan Hill Fair, that which is evidently the fair of St. Anne's Hill. The corruption of St. Anne's Hill to Tan Hill is curious, but obviously thus. St. Anne's Hill — S'tan Hill— Tan Hill.

The Wiltshire Wansdye remains highly visible in the landscape especially when it is crossing chalk downland that has little vegetation to hide it. Its date is somewhat uncertain; most sources consider it to have been constructed around 600AD give or take a hundred years either was. It was definitely constructed before the 9th century when begins to occur in charters.

It appears to start west of Savernake Forest [Map], after which it travels broadly west through Shaw Medieval Village [Map], Furze Hill [Map], Tan Hill, Wiltshire [Map], Shepherd's Shore, Wiltshire [Map], Furze Knoll [Map] after which it disappears, possibly being absorbed into the Roman Road

Tan Hill Barrows, All Cannings, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Tan Hill Barrows is also in Avebury Bronze Age Barrows.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1859 V6 Pages 317-336. Still further east, on St. Anne's [Map], or as it is commonly called, Tan Hill [Map]1, to the south of Wansdyke and overlooking the villages of Allington and All Cannings, are four barrows [Map], all of the bowl form, surrounded by shallow trenches.

Note 1. The vulgar name of Tan Hill has almost supplanted its proper designation of St. Anne's Hill, by which it is still known on the Maps. The great annual fair held here on old St. Anne's day, (Aug. 6th) is sufficient proof of the etymology, and of the unsatisfactory nature of the speculations of the late Canon Bowles and others, by whom its name was connected with that of the Celtic Jupiter, Taranis. —(Bremhill, 1828, p. 35; Hermes Brit. p. 14.) Stronger testimony may be derivable from Anglo-Saxon charters of the 10th century, of Edward the elder, Edwy and Edgar, in which, if Fosbroke's reading is to be accepted, mention is made, in describing the boundaries of the adjoining parish of Stanton, of "Anne's Thorn" and "Anne's Stone," probably on this very hill, (Hoare's Regist. Wiltun, p. 6; Cod. Dip. Nos. 335, 467, and 482). In^the 17th century, Aubrey writes of "St. Anne's Hill" as "vulgarly called Tann Hill, where every yeare on St. Anne's day (26 July) is kept a great fair, within an old camp." (Nat. Hist, of Wilts, p. 114). Mr. Duke, 'who thought the fair of St. Anne may have succeeded to the feriæ of Diana, observes "the corruption of St. Anne's Hill to Tan Hill is obviously thus, St. Anne's Hill — S'tan Hill — Tan Hill." (Druidical Temples of Wilts, 1846, p. 95.) There can be little doubt that this hill has been the site of pagan rites, but to what deity these were paid, there is, we think, no proof. The Beltein may likely enough have been here celebrated; but these midsummer fires were especially in honour of the solar god, Belin. The hill, it seems clear, derives its name from that of the patron saint of the parish church (All Cannings) viz. St. Anne.

Tan Hill Escarpment Barrows, All Cannings, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Tan Hill Escarpment Barrows is also in Avebury Bronze Age Barrows.

Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1859 V6 Pages 317-336. Three low barrows [Map], between St. Anne's Hill and Milk Hill, on the escarpment of the downs close to Wansdyke, were examined; in the first of which a few scattered bones of ruminants, and in the third, traces of incinerated bones were alone met with.

17. In the second, at a depth of two feet, were bones and teeth of sheep and oxen; at three feet two small pieces of deer's horn and a fragment of coarse black pottery, and at four and a half feet, two circular cists scooped out of the chalk rock, a foot or two apart, each two feet and a half in diameter. These were filled with grey ashes, with no distinct trace of burnt bone. Deposits of this kind, to the exclusion of interments, properly so called, have before been found in the barrows of Wiltshire, and are termed cineraria in the descriptions of Sir R. C. Hoare.

On Walker's Hill, Alton-Priors Down, near the very large long barrow [Map], by which it is distinguished1, are three small mounds [Map]; two of which disclosed marks of interment after cremation; they had been previously opened. The smaller one was not examined.

Note 1. Ancient Wilts, vol. ii. pp. 12, 46. Salisbury Vol. of the Arch. Inst. p. 98.

Alton Barnes, Wiltshire

Devizes, Wiltshire

Kitchen Barrow Hill, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Kitchen Hill Bowl Barrow, Kitchen Barrow Hill, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Kitchen Hill Bowl Barrow is also in Avebury Bronze Age Barrows.

Kitchen Hill Bowl Barrow [Map]. Historic England 101426.

The monument includes a barrow situated 800m east of Kitchen Hill Long Barrow [Map]. It forms the southern outlier of a cemetery which includes a total of five barrows. This is one of a number of cemeteries located on the Downs. The barrow has a mound which has been reduced by cultivation in the past but which survives as a visible monument, best seen from the east. It measures 12m in diameter and up to 0.6m high. The western half of the barrow has been reduced to the point where it is no longer clearly definable at ground level. This difference in survival of the mound, which originally stood at least 0.9m high, is due to the fact that it is crossed from north east to south west by a fence line which forms the parish boundary and the extent of cultivation either side of the boundary has been variable. Surrounding the original extent of the mound is a 2m quarry ditch from which material was obtained during its construction. This survives as a buried feature below the modern ground level. Beyond the ditch lies a 1.5m wide counter-scarp bank which stands 0.3m high on the eastern side of the monument. It has been levelled to the west. During the late 1850s the barrow was partly excavated and a secondary cremationburial was found, placed on a flat stone beneath an inverted Late Bronze Age bucket urn.

Kitchen Hill Long Barrow, Kitchen Barrow Hill, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Kitchen Hill Long Barrow is also in South England Neolithic Long Barrows.

Kitchen Hill Long Barrow [Map]. Historic England 1012519.

The monument includes a Long Barrow, orientated SW-NE and set below the crest of a steep south-facing slope. The barrow mound has maximum dimensions of 33m long by 15m wide and survives to a height of 2m when viewed from the south-west. Flanking quarry ditches run parallel and contiguous to the barrow mound. These are 5m wide and up to 0.5m deep on the east side and 1m deep to the west. Central hollows on the surface of the mound suggest the site may once have been excavated. Worked flint artefacts, probably contemporary with the construction and use of the monument, are visible on the surface of the adjacent ploughed field.

Manningford Abbots, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Manningford Bruce, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

In 1352 Beatrice Brewes Baroness Say was born to Thomas Brewes (age 50) at Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire [Map].

On 8th May 1858 John Meade Falkner was born at Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire [Map].

Marden, Wiltshire

Market Lavington, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles

Inquisitions Post Mortem 118. Wilts. Inq. made at Colingbourn, 4 May, 35 Edward III.

Colingbourn. The manor (extent given), held of the king in chief by knight's service. The extent includes two tenants called 'monendayesmen'

Everle. The manor (extent given), held of the king in chief by knight's service. The extent mentions a park with deer, and a rabbit warren (conicular').

Lavynton. The manor (extent given), held of the king in chief by knight's service and let at farm to the tenants of the town there for 131. 6s. 8d. yearly. He held no other lands &c. in the county.

Date of death and heirs as last above.

On 24th January 1674 Bishop Thomas Tanner was born at Market Lavington, Wiltshire.

North Newton, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Oare, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles

Martinsell Hill Fort, Oare, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Martinsell Hill Fort is also in Iron Age Hill Forts Wiltshire.

Martinsell Hill Fort [Map]. Martinsell Hill, near Oare and north of Pewsey, is the third highest point in the county of Wiltshire, southwest England, at some 289m above sea level. At the summit is an Iron Age univallate hillfort of 32 acres with a clearly visible bank and ditch system. The entrance appears to be to the northeast where there is also a ditch.

Rushall, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

The River Avon West, Wiltshire rises around All Cannings, Wiltshire [Map] in the Vale of Pewsey being formed from many streams from where it flows past Patney, Wiltshire [Map], around Marden Henge aka Hatfield Earthworks [Map] and Wilsford Henge [Map], Rushall, Wiltshire [Map] where it joins the River Avon East, Wiltshire to form the Wiltshire River Avon.

Upavon, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Casterley Camp, Upavon, Swanborough Hundred, Wiltshire, South-West England, British Isles [Map]

Casterley Camp is also in Iron Age Hill Forts Wiltshire.

Colt Hoare 1812. Proceeding a little further, I quit the ridgeway, and direct my course towards CASTERLEY CAMP [Map]. This earthen work bears the strongest marks of originality, and none of the modern signs of innovation. I consider it as a British town, but not so populous as either of those already noticed at STOCKTON and GROVELY. Here we find no deep or multiplied ramparts, but a simple ditch and vallum of no great elevation, enclosing an area of above sixty acres. The richness of its soil having induced the owner to devote it to tillage, many of the original works and excavations have been defaced, but we still in D. and E. recognize the works of the Britons; the former in its irregularity resembling others before noticed at STOCKTON and GROVELLY: the other, E., by having the ditch within the vallum, denoting probably a place appropriated to religious purposes. Many passages have been made through these works for the accommodation Of waggons; it is therefore difficult to state the original entrances: I rather doubt if C. was one, but can speak, I think, confidently respecting A. and B., though we do not: usually find two entrances so near to each other, and it would be reasonable to suppose there had been another entrance or exit at the northern end, where there are signs of some outworks, &c. The line of ramparts is most perfect and regular on the east side. On the south side, we may observe a bank and ditch issuing from the camp, which runs over the down, and bends towards the vale of Avon. The area of this camp contains above sixty-four acres; the circuit of the outer ditch is one mile and a quarter, and the depth of the vallum is twenty-eight feet. On the west side also, are the signs of another bank and ditch.

Note 1. We often meet with the names of Bodbury, and Badbury, evidently derived from the British word bod, a dwelling but in digging in the area of camp, Mr. Cunningtons could not find any pottery, or other signs of residence.

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Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine 1885 V22 Pages 234-238. "The manoeuvres of the day being interrupted by the heavy fall of earth, I left Marden and ascended the chalk hills. The eye is caught by the remains of an ancient earthen work on the summit of the hill overlooking this fine vale. It is called Broadbury, Brodbury, &c., &c. It has been much mutilated by chalk pits. It is single ditched — similar square excavations (containing fragments of the oldest pottery) to those on Cotley Hill, near Warminster, have been found here.

"These works are situated very near the great Ridgeway — see my map of Wilts. Turned off on the left, and continued my ride along it to Casterley Camp [Map]. Casterley much changed in its appearance, having been lately ploughed up. Nunc seges est ubi Troja fuit [Now the harvest is where Troy was]. Thence crossed the vale of Avon at Chisenbury, once the site of a priory. My trackway led me straight to the perfect little square work called Sidbury [Map]. Great British excavations in its neighbourhood. Saw on my right the beautiful twin barrows — before drawn and noticed. One remains to be opened. 'Par nobile fratrum [A noble pair of brothers].' Returned to Everley gratified and benefitted, as usual, by my ride amongst the Britons.