Featured: Explore Scotland (and everywhere else) with our Megalithic Portal iPhone app

Explore Scotland (and everywhere else) with our Megalithic Portal iPhone app

Random Image


Llyn Barfog Stone

Serpent’s Gold by Sam Osman

Serpent’s Gold by Sam Osman

Who's Online

There are currently, 458 guests and 1 members online.

You are a guest. To join in, please register for free by clicking here

Sponsors

<< Our Photo Pages >> Thornwell Farm - Chambered Tomb in Wales in Monmouthshire

Submitted by thecaptain on Friday, 22 October 2004  Page Views: 12923

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Thornwell Farm
Country: Wales County: Monmouthshire Type: Chambered Tomb
Nearest Town: Chepstow  Nearest Village: Chepstow
Map Ref: ST53959167  Landranger Map Number: 162
Latitude: 51.621955N  Longitude: 2.66658W
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
2 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
2 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

Internal Links:
External Links:

I have visited· I would like to visit

TheCaptain visited on 26th Mar 2022 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 3 Access: 5 Walking the Welsh Coast Path from Chepstow to Caldicot. Remains of a chambered longbarrow on a green area in the housing estate of Thornwell, near to the motorway junction south of Chepstow. Remains of two slab sided chambers can still be seen when the undergrowth is low.

TheCaptain visited on 11th Nov 2006 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 2 Access: 5 On a housing estate to the south of Chepstow, right beside the Severn Bridge motorway junction from where it can be seen, are to be found the sad remains of a once major neolithic chambered tomb. It is to be found on a green space between the houses of Fountains Way and the back of a shopping area, and has a very large old oak tree growing on top of it. Under the tree can be seen remains of a large mound with various rocks sticking out, particularly on the northern side. Closer inspection of the high ground beside the tree reveals what looks to be the remains of a tomb chamber. Several edge set stones are to be seen sticking out of the ground, forming a rectangular structure about 3 metres by 2 metres, with a right angle incorporated – perhaps remains of an entrance and side chamber ? Below the tree the ground drops away quite steeply, and indeed may be the remains of the edge of the tomb, which has been shown to have once consisted of a large drystone wall surrounded structure. Within the rubble in this bank are several large stone slabs, which may once have been part of a side chamber. The stones are the local hard puddingstone type conglomerate of sandstone with gravel in it. When I was visiting, I was not sure whether this was the right place for this tomb, and so asked a local lady. She told me that although she did not know what was there, she had been told that her views would never be spoiled because no new building would ever be allowed on the green space because of some historical site. Excavations here in the past have revealed drystone walling, one main and two side chambers (one with a porthole) plus human bones, pottery, flints etc.

hamish have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 2.5 Ambience: 2.5 Access: 5

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by thecaptain : On a housing estate to the south of Chepstow, are to be found the sad remains of a once major neolithic chambered tomb. It is on a green space between the houses of Fountains Way, and has a very large old oak tree growing on top of it. Under the tree can be seen remains of a large mound with various rocks sticking out, particularly on the northern side. (Vote or comment on this photo)
On a housing estate to the south of Chepstow, right beside the Severn Bridge motorway junction from where it can be seen, are to be found the sad remains of a once major neolithic chambered tomb. It is to be found on a green space between the houses of Fountains Way and the back of a shopping area, and has a very large old oak tree growing on top of it. Under the tree can be seen remains of a large mound with various rocks sticking out, particularly on the northern side.

Closer inspection of the high ground beside the tree reveals what looks to be the remains of a tomb chamber. Several edge set stones are to be seen sticking out of the ground, forming a rectangular structure about 3 metres by 2 metres, with a right angle incorporated – perhaps remains of an entrance and side chamber ?

Below the tree the ground drops away quite steeply, and indeed may be the remains of the edge of the tomb, which has been shown to have once consisted of a large drystone wall surrounded structure. Within the rubble in this bank are several large stone slabs, which may once have been part of a side chamber. The stones are the local hard puddingstone type conglomerate of sandstone with gravel in it.

Excavations here in the past have revealed drystone walling, one main and two side chambers (one with a porthole) plus human bones, pottery, flints etc.

More information about Thornwell Chambered Tomb from coflein.

About 100 metres to the east of the chambered tomb, following a footpath up between the houses, the remains of a bronze age round barrow can be found in another green grassy area left between the houses. Its about 10 metres in diameter, and in a few places an occasional stone can be seen to be sticking through the grass.

More information about Thornwell Round Barrow from coflein.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.


Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by Bladup : Thornwell chambered cairn. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by TheCaptain : Remains of a chambered longbarrow on a green area in the housing estate of Thornwell, near to the motorway junction south of Chepstow. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by TheCaptain : Remains of two slab sided chambers can still be seen when the undergrowth is low. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by TheCaptain (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by coldrum : Excavation drawing. This is from an unknown book. Photocopy was given to me amongst information on prehistoric sites in Wales. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by Bladup : The chamber at Thornwell chambered cairn.

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by Bladup : Kerb/facade stones at Thornwell chambered cairn.

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by thecaptain : Closer inspection of the high ground beside the tree reveals what looks to be the remains of a tomb chamber. Several edge set stones are to be seen sticking out of the ground, forming a rectangular structure about 3 metres by 2 metres.

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by thecaptain : Below the tree the ground drops away quite steeply. Within the rubble in this bank are several large stone slabs, which may once have been part of a side chamber. The stones are the local hard puddingstone type conglomerate of sandstone with gravel in it. (1 comment)

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by hamish : This is from the top of the barrow looking west, I am pleased to have seen this at last. It is a otswold Severn type tomb, oval in shape with drystone walling. There are three chambers inside wich contained bones, pottery and flints. It was excavated in 1990.

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by hamish : This may have been the entrance portal, a bit difficult to make out with the shadows.

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by hamish : You have to part the under growth to see these stones, I couldn't see any more near.

Thornwell Farm
Thornwell Farm submitted by hamish : There it is under a massive Oak tree. You can see the form of the barrow and some of the stones left uncovered after the excavation.

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site

Nearby sites

Click here to view sites on an interactive OS map

Key: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed

Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)

To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.


Turn off the page maps and other distractions

Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 139m NNE 20° Thornwell Round Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (ST540918)
 1.0km N 357° St Peter's Cave Cave or Rock Shelter (ST539927)
 1.1km N 350° The Bulwarks (Monmouthshire)* Hillfort (ST53789274)
 1.7km WSW 253° St Tewdric's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST5227991167)
 1.9km SSE 151° St Tecla's Chapel & Holy Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (ST5484390020)
 2.6km N 351° Chepstow Museum* Museum (ST53579420)
 3.2km NW 322° Bishop Barnet's Camp Ancient Village or Settlement (ST520942)
 3.5km W 278° Willis Hill Ancient Village or Settlement (ST50519216)
 3.8km NW 317° Great Barnets Wood Enclosure Ancient Village or Settlement (ST51389451)
 4.1km N 350° Pierce Wood Camp 2* Hillfort (ST53259572)
 4.1km N 350° Piercefield Park Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (ST53259575)
 4.3km N 355° Pierce Wood Camp 1* Hillfort (ST53619596)
 4.5km WSW 254° Mathern Round Barrow(s) (ST496905)
 4.6km SW 228° Heston Brake* Chambered Tomb (ST50528866)
 5.0km N 3° Spital Meend* Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle (ST54269671)
 5.3km NNW 335° St Arvan's Cross* Ancient Cross (ST517965)
 5.4km SW 228° Portskewett Chutchyard Cross* Ancient Cross (ST4990088140)
 5.5km SW 217° Sudbrook Camp* Hillfort (ST50548731)
 5.7km WSW 255° Crick Round Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (ST48449025)
 5.9km NW 308° Itton Cross (St Deiniol's)* Ancient Cross (ST4933095290)
 6.3km N 7° Offa's Dyke at Tidenham Chase* Misc. Earthwork (ST548979)
 6.3km SW 223° Caldicot Pill Submerged Forest Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (ST4956687114)
 6.5km ENE 65° Oldbury-on-Severn Submerged Forest* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (ST59849440)
 6.7km NNW 340° Gaer Hill Camp* Hillfort (ST517980)
 6.7km NE 34° Broad Stone (Gloucestershire)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (ST5776397247)
View more nearby sites and additional images

<< Down Ridge

L’Ghar Tramuntana >>

Please add your thoughts on this site

Great Crowns of Stone: The Recumbent Stone Circles of Scotland

Great Crowns of Stone: The Recumbent Stone Circles of Scotland

Sponsors

Auto-Translation (Google)

Translate from English into:

"Thornwell Farm" | Login/Create an Account | 9 News and Comments
  
Go back to top of page    Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content.
Re: Thornwell Farm by sem on Wednesday, 31 May 2017
(User Info | Send a Message)
OS grid ref (Archwilio) ST53959167 [checked against SID. correct]
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thornwell Farm by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 06 April 2010
(User Info | Send a Message)
street view

View Larger Map
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thornwell Farm by coldrum on Monday, 04 January 2010
(User Info | Send a Message)
The monument is mentioned here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mjpowell/Neotomb/Neotomb.htm

Picture here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mjpowell/Neotomb/thornwell-farm-chamber.JPG
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thornwell Farm by hamish on Tuesday, 14 November 2006
(User Info | Send a Message)
I was there in 2005, I took the pictures.It took me a long time to find but the site is correct. You can see the remaining stones if you are careful.There is another Barrow nearby.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thornwell Farm by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 14 November 2006
(User Info | Send a Message)
When I was visiting in Nov 2006, I was not sure whether this was the right place or not for this tomb, having not read the descriptions, and so asked a local lady. She told me that although she did not know what was there, she had been told that her views would never be spoiled because no new building would ever be allowed on the green space because of some historical site.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thornwell Farm by DaveM on Wednesday, 08 February 2006
(User Info | Send a Message)
Worked on this one as well, in the freezing cold with snow on the ground. Unfortunately we weren't the first, the site had been comprehensively messed with by a local archaeologist, who started digging it as a post-medieval barn (according to her report anyway) and didn't stop. The central chamber had been roughly emptied (freshly broken bones lying round the edges though..), luckily the side chambers were/ are? intact.

Said archaeologist tried to get CADW to pay her to publish, and understandably they didn't. She has since died, and I have no idea what happened to her records (if any).

Tomb's easy to find, just look for a big oak tree, the tomb is beneath it.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thornwell Farm by TheCaptain on Saturday, 23 October 2004
(User Info | Send a Message)
looks like one for me to search out sometime, but having looked at the multimap for the place, I wouldnt be surprised if its not been built on.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thornwell Farm by Andy B on Friday, 22 October 2004
(User Info | Send a Message)
Oops, thanks for that!

No, I can't find a photo either - we need someone to go and take one! Is it still there?

THORNWELL FARM LONG BARROW SAM Mm 206 (ST53959167)
Severn-Cotswold tomb, consisting of a n oval mound with a drystone revetment, in which three chambers were revealed by excavation. Contained articulated and disarticulated human bones, pottery and flint etc.
GGAT 1991
http://www.cpat.org.uk/research/seeprek.htm

Cheers,
Andy
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Thronwell Farm by Anonymous on Friday, 22 October 2004
daer Vicky'i just visited the site for Thornwell Farm Chambered Tomb.....not Thronwell(not being sarcastic...really!) and was disappointed not to see any images of the barrow. Would you know where i could view any on the web,for i have searched but to no avail. tabbs.man@virgin.net
[ Reply to This ]

Your Name: Anonymous [ Register Now ]
Subject:


Add your comment or contribution to this page. Spam or offensive posts are deleted immediately, don't even bother

<<< What is five plus one as a number? (Please type the answer to this question in the little box on the left)
You can also embed videos and other things. For Youtube please copy and paste the 'embed code'.
For Google Street View please include Street View in the text.
Create a web link like this: <a href="https://www.megalithic.co.uk">This is a link</a>  

Allowed HTML is:
<p> <b> <i> <a> <img> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <tt> <li> <ol> <ul> <object> <param> <embed> <iframe>

We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.