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<< Our Photo Pages >> West Mersea - Artificial Mound in England in Essex

Submitted by Thorgrim on Wednesday, 06 September 2023  Page Views: 18992

Roman, Greek and ClassicalSite Name: West Mersea
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 0.262 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Essex Type: Artificial Mound
Nearest Town: Colchester
Map Ref: TM02261434  Landranger Map Number: 168
Latitude: 51.791134N  Longitude: 0.931408E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
 3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
 3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
 5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
 5

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indigosue visited on 9th Sep 2023 - their rating: Cond: 4 Access: 4 We went to see this during the heritage open day event and found it very interesting. Afterwards, we went to the Mersea Island Museum to see the lead coffin and glass urn containing the cremated remains of the Roman/Gaulish man who presumably had the burial mound constructed.

West Mersea
West Mersea submitted by Thorgrim : An old shot from the time when you could get inside - spooky! (Vote or comment on this photo)
At Barrow Hill on Mersea Island, Essex stands this Romano-British barrow. Excavated in 1912, the barrow is 23 ft high and 110 ft around. There is an entrance protected by an iron gate and a passage leading to a tiny chamber which contained cremated remains in a glass vessel. Local legend tells that the ghosts of two Viking brothers are doomed to fight each night for the love of the same woman.

Directions: Take the B1025 from Colchester, cross the Strood at low tide and the conspicuous mound can be found at TM 021149 on the East Mersea Road almost opposite Dawes Lane.

There is also a rare Roman wheel tomb in a private garden to the east of West Mersea church. It has a circular wall 65ft in diameter with internal walls radiating like spokes from a central chamber.

Note: Mersea Roman Barrow Tours / Talk, Sat/Sun 9/10th September, more in the comments on our page
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St Peter's Well (West Mersea)
St Peter's Well (West Mersea) submitted by Thorgrim : Just off the Coast Road near West Mersea on Mersea Island, the well is well signposted and reached by a short footpath on board-walks across the marshes. Over protected by safety conscious bureaucrats - there is nothing to see but a wooden box and a bronze plate! Great location though. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

West Mersea Barrow
West Mersea Barrow submitted by Thorgrim : At Barrow Hill on Mersea Island, Essex stands this Romano-British barrow. Take the B1025 fromColchester, cross the Strood at low tide and the conspicuous mound can be found at TM 021149 on the East Mersea Road almost opposite Dawes Lane. Excavated in 1912, the barrow is 23 ft high and 110 ft around. There is an entance protected by an iron gate and a passage leading to a tiny chamber which con... (6 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

West Mersea
West Mersea submitted by indigosue : Mersea Island roman barrow exterior (Vote or comment on this photo)

West Mersea
West Mersea submitted by indigosue : Mersea Island roman barrow glass urn and lead coffin (at the Mersea Island Museum) (Vote or comment on this photo)

West Mersea
West Mersea submitted by indigosue : Mersea Island roman barrow interior (Vote or comment on this photo)

West Mersea
West Mersea submitted by indigosue : Mersea Island roman barrow entrance. We visited on the Heritage Open Day.

St Peter's Well (West Mersea)
St Peter's Well (West Mersea) submitted by Thorgrim : Plate gives information but heavy boards prevent sight of the well itself.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.5km SW 223° St Peter's Well (West Mersea)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (TM006124)
 6.3km S 175° Othona Roman Fort* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (TM031081)
 6.5km W 273° Wigborough Henge* Henge (TL957144)
 7.1km NE 37° Alresford Hill Cairn (TM06282022)
 7.4km W 274° Mill Mound Artificial Mound (TL9487914575)
 8.0km NNW 343° Berechurch Dyke Misc. Earthwork
 8.0km N 351° Tamworth Mound Misc. Earthwork (TM0065922209)
 8.1km NW 317° Gryme's Dyke Ancient Village or Settlement (TL965200)
 9.5km NW 324° Heath Farm Dyke Ancient Village or Settlement (TL964218)
 9.7km ENE 78° St. Osyth's Well (St. Osyth) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (TM11651670)
 9.8km N 2° Annan Road Bronze Age Barrow Cemetery* Barrow Cemetery (TM0215024164)
 10.0km NNW 329° Gosbecks Archaeological Park* Ancient Village or Settlement (TL968227)
 10.1km ENE 72° Flag Inn (St Osyth) Cairn (TM11771777)
 10.5km N 1° Greenstead Stones* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (TM021248)
 10.5km NW 323° Stanway Gravel Pit Ancient Village or Settlement (TL956225)
 10.7km NNW 348° St John's Green (Colchester) Cairn (TL99642468)
 11.1km N 351° The Minories* Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry (TM0001925233)
 11.2km N 350° Colchester Castle Museum* Museum (TL998253)
 11.4km NNW 338° Lexden Tumulus* Artificial Mound (TL9753724712)
 11.4km NE 48° Great Bentley Henge (TM104224)
 11.5km NW 306° Birch Long Barrow (TL927207)
 11.7km NNW 345° Sheepden Dyke Ancient Village or Settlement (TL987255)
 11.8km NNW 333° Triple Dyke Ancient Village or Settlement (TL965246)
 13.2km WNW 289° Tiptree Moud Round Barrow(s) (TL896182)
 13.4km NNW 343° Lexden Dyke* Ancient Village or Settlement (TL978270)
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"West Mersea" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Re: West Mersea by Andy B on Friday, 08 September 2023
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From 2013, EADT: Bones discovered in a Roman burial mound above the access road to the island were sent off to be analysed by experts by Mersea Island Museum.
The results have revealed that the bones belonged to an “active man” who suffered from a rare bone disorder.
Archive Link
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Mersea Roman Barrow Tours / Talk, Sat/Sun 9/10th September by Andy B on Wednesday, 06 September 2023
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The Roman Barrow Mound is an excavated burial chamber, the contents of which are in Mersea Museum. They are the cremated remains of a male contained in a glass Roman cremation urn, found with a lead casket. It was excavated in 1912.

Before being led in, visitors will receive a short informative and illustrated talk. Visitors can then enter the burial chamber by means of a narrow, gated door into a corridor with low-level lighting. There are a few steps down into the actual chamber room which can hold up to ten people on a tour. There is also an opportunity for able-bodied people to climb to the top of the Mound, through the trees to get an idea of its height and position relative to the mainland. There is a booklet that can be purchased at the site and there are illustrated information boards at the free car park and inside the chamber.

Saturday 9 September: 10.00 - 16.00
Sunday 10 September: 10.00 - 16.00
No booking required
The site is not wheelchair or pushchair accessible and there are no public toilets on site.

Max 10 people per tour/session. Half an hour The Mersea Museum will also be open on these two days between 1400-1700 hours, which is free to children and £2.00 for an adult. Contact for the day: Mr Peter Rudlin 07742197438
www.merseamuseum.org.uk
www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/mersea-roman-barrow1
[ Reply to This ]

Re: West Mersea by JohnLindsay on Friday, 24 August 2012
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The mound is going to be open on 8, 9 Sept as part of Heritage Open Days, and the glass container and lead casket are currently on display in Mersea Museum, right next to the church.

There is a booklet, 2012, Howlett on sale.
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