<< Our Photo Pages >> Selattyn Hill Ring Cairn - Ring Cairn in England in Shropshire
Submitted by TimPrevett on Thursday, 12 August 2004 Page Views: 12454
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Selattyn Hill Ring CairnCountry: England County: Shropshire Type: Ring Cairn
Nearest Town: Oswestry Nearest Village: Selattyn
Map Ref: SJ256341
Latitude: 52.899171N Longitude: 3.107477W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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TimPrevett has visited here
This Bronze Age ring cairn dated to about 2000 BC sits upon the hill top to the southwest of Selattyn.
Though overgrown in places, with a Victorian viewing tower placed just off centre within the cairn, the monument remains a substantial, noticeable feature.
The tower was built in 1847 by a Mr Crewe, in memory of Prince Gwen - a 6th Century Prince killed in combat nearby. Mr Crewe believed Gwen was buried here.
When the tower was built, it is alleged that 12 Bronze Age urns and cremations were found; sadly, their whereabouts is not now known.
As for the cairn itself, the rubble bank at the widest point is 9 feet, with a diameter in excess of 60 feet. Partly restored in 1998, the most substantial part of the ring remains on the furthest side of the cairn from where the monument is approached.
The conifer plantation around the cairn obscures views from this elavated position that once reached over 30 miles distant (hence the viewing tower, and later use by the homeguard in World War Two as a lookout).
The approach is from the footpath, from the south side of the B4579. There is only space for parking for one car parked very considerately, and given the track is on a bend, reversing in to park is strongly recommend. The footpath then proceeds in a roundabout fashion through woodland, and across fields. It may give some reassurance to go with the 1:25000 map in hand.
On entering the wood, their is an interpretive board which mentions the cairn, but gives no detail of the cairn itself. Nonetheless, it is pleasing to read that the villagers, (assumed) landowners and council all supported the restoration of, and opening access to the tower and cairn.
However, the cairn will be needing further restorative work before long. The woodland is encroaching back upon the site, smothering heather is in ample evidence, with broom and saplings taking hold. Not to mention the towering perennial weeds! A winter or early spring visit would be best to avoid much of this.
Curiously, both me and my accompanying two children heard a very high pitch continuous noise while visiting. We could not see any overhead electrical wires, and were not sure what otherwise would be generating the sound.
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