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<< Our Photo Pages >> Devil's Humps Barrows - Barrow Cemetery in England in West Sussex

Submitted by Moonwatcher on Sunday, 21 July 2002  Page Views: 18259

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Devil's Humps Barrows Alternative Name: Kings' Graves, Bow Hill barrows
Country: England County: West Sussex Type: Barrow Cemetery
Nearest Town: Chichester
Map Ref: SU820111  Landranger Map Number: 197
Latitude: 50.893571N  Longitude: 0.835456W
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.
4 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.
3 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
4

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I have visited· I would like to visit

MartynCon visited on 13th Feb 2020 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Very nice area after long uphill walk, good views across channel

Reava visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3

Andy B JimChampion have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 4 Access: 3

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : View north-east along the ridge of Bow Hill from the cross dyke, showing the Devil's Humps barrows. The two barrows on the left are bell barrows, and those further on are bowl barrows. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Situated at Kingley Vale, an ancient Yew forest whose trees date back 800 years. The barrows are at the top of Kingley Vale on Bow Hill, known as "Kings' Graves " or "Devil's Humps". Lots of legends and folklore surround this site, with tales of Vikings, buried treasure and Druids.

Kingley Vale is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under European wildlife legislation, and is a wonderful place to explore. It is quite a trek to the top of the hill, but worth it for the ambience and the views. The most convenient car park is at West Stoke (no charge - grid reference SU 824 087). Head north along the footpath from the car park to the southern gate into the nature reserve. A waymarked 'nature trail' takes you through the yew woodland up the hill to the barrows.
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Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : Bell barrows on Bow Hill, looking south-west. In the foreground in the ditch, berm and mound of the north-east bell barrow, with the south-west bell barrow beyond. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Moonwatcher : Devil's Humps - Bow Hill, Sussex. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Hunanuk : two small barrows of Devil's humps. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Hunanuk : two smaller barrows of Devil's hump (Vote or comment on this photo)

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Hunanuk : Look east to the (Vote or comment on this photo)

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by durhamnature : Old drawing from "Goodwood, its House and Grounds" via archive.org

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by durhamnature

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Andy B : The two middle barrows showing the erosion from people climbing them. Oh and some nice sky. Taken in October 2011.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Andy B : Looking north east up the line of barrows. Taken in October 2011.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Andy B : A view north of the most north-easterly of the barrows. Taken in October 2011.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by Andy B : The most north-easterly of the barrows. Taken in October 2011.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : The north-east bell barrow, from the top of the south-west bell barrow. A worn path from one barrow mound to the other shows up the underlying chalk. A little further on are two bowl barrows, part of the same group.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : The south-west bell barrow on Bow Hill, part of the Devil's Humps barrows. The dip in the top of the mound is due to digging by 19th century antiquarians. Part of the other bell barrow is visible on the left of the photo.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : View looking east, with the north-east bell barrow ditch in the foreground and the bowl barrows beyond.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : Profile of the north-east bell barrow, showing ditch, berm and mound. The hollow in the top of the mound was made by 19th century antiquarians. Chichester can be seen in the distance.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : Bowl barrows on Bow Hill, looking northeast - part of the "Devil's Humps' barrows. The post between the two barrows is labelled on the map as an 'Observation Post'.

Devil's Humps Barrows
Devil's Humps Barrows submitted by JimChampion : Looking north-west (roughly) towards the two bell barrows on Bow Hill. The yew-covered hillside is part of Kingley Vale national nature reserve. The barrows have been called 'The Kings' Graves', a reference to a legend about a battle that happened in this area.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 315m WNW 289° Bow Hill Cross Dykes* Misc. Earthwork (SU817112)
 538m SSE 159° Kingley Vale Settlements Ancient Village or Settlement (SU822106)
 639m NE 52° Bow Hill Cross Dykes and Earthwork Misc. Earthwork (SU825115)
 761m SSW 204° Yew Tree Grove Cross Dyke Misc. Earthwork (SU817104)
 1.0km NNE 18° Stoughton Long Barrows* Long Barrow (SU823121)
 1.1km NNE 23° Stoughton Down Tumulus Round Barrow(s) (SU824121)
 1.3km WSW 255° Adsdean Down Tumuli* Barrow Cemetery (SU80751075)
 1.8km NE 35° Goosehill Camp* Hillfort (SU830126)
 5.2km NNW 335° Handle Down South Round Barrow(s) (SU7967815765)
 5.4km E 89° St Roche's Gate Cross Dyke* Misc. Earthwork (SU874113)
 5.4km ESE 105° Lavant Down Earthworks Misc. Earthwork (SU873098)
 5.5km NW 325° Bevis Thumb* Long Barrow (SU7875415513)
 5.6km NNW 337° Handle Down Central* Round Barrow(s) (SU79691619)
 5.6km SE 144° Brandy Hole Earthwork* Misc. Earthwork (SU854066)
 5.7km E 90° The Trundle* Hillfort (SU877112)
 5.8km NNW 337° Handle Down North* Round Barrow(s) (SU7963616421)
 5.8km ESE 104° Lavant Down Flint Mines Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry (SU877098)
 6.0km NNE 28° West Dean Woods Barrow Round Barrow(s) (SU8473916465)
 6.2km N 5° Devil's Jumps* Barrow Cemetery (SU825173)
 6.5km SE 140° Graylingwell Earthwork* Misc. Earthwork (SU863062)
 6.8km NNE 29° Newfarm Plantation Cross Dyke Misc. Earthwork (SU8518117120)
 6.8km NNE 32° Bepton Down Platform barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SU8554516928)
 6.8km NNE 32° Bepton Down Bowl Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SU8549716973)
 6.8km NNE 24° Linch Down* Round Barrow(s) (SU8464517407)
 6.9km NNE 25° Linchball Hill* Barrow Cemetery (SU84851735)
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"Devil's Humps Barrows" | Login/Create an Account | 6 News and Comments
  
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Bow Hill barrows, West Sussex by Andy B on Sunday, 19 August 2012
(User Info | Send a Message)
Details of these barrows from English Heritage

Words can't really do justice to the spectacular vista from the spur - views all along the coastal plain and across to the Isle of Wight. The barrows, also known as the 'Devil's Humps' or the 'King's Graves', have been excavated in the past but no record survives, so we are uncertain of the date.

They are likely to be Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age in origin but it is entirely plausible that they were re-used in the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods.

Access to the sites isn't as daunting as would first appear! Approach from the car park to the west of West Stoke House and follow the well signposted trail.

For the more energetic visitor there is much to see on the Reserve including at least two Iron Age hillforts, linear boundaries and burnt mounds, as well as a magnificent Yew forest.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/discover/south-downs/explore/bow-hill/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Devil's Humps Barrows by Anonymous on Saturday, 05 January 2008
I've just been to see them; its a shame that there seem to be mountain bike tracks scoring them quite heavily, this seems a terrible shame and people ought not to be allowed to ride over ancient graves...a little more respect would be nice.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Devil's Humps Barrows by Anonymous on Monday, 19 March 2007
I am currently doing an archaeology project about the barrows for my A-levels. It is a fascinating site and to think how complex their beliefs and rituals were are mind blowing. It is worth the effort to. go and see them

I thank you!!!!!
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Devil's Humps Barrows by Anonymous on Tuesday, 24 June 2008
    Dear Anonymous

    I was most interested to read that you are doing a project on The Barrows at Kingley Vale. If you have any information regarding their ancient history I would be most grateful if you would point me in the right direction. I am currently researching the barrows mysef and am particularly interested in any stories to do with their druidic or neolithic past.

    Sorry to bother you and thanks in advance for any pointers you can give me.

    Best wishes

    Michael
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Devil's Humps Barrows by Anonymous on Thursday, 12 October 2006
During the last war, my family moved to a village ( West Stoke I think it was called ) close to the Barrow. I would have been about nine years of age and can remember clearly, running around the humps three times and waiting for the devil to jump out. The copse close by was where my father did his home guard duty, exercising etc in case we were attacked.

I have very fond memories of the place and am cotemplating a nostalgic visit albeit sixty odd years later.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Devil's Humps Barrows by Moonwatcher on Wednesday, 29 June 2005
(User Info | Send a Message)
Situated at Kingley Vale, an ancient Yew forest whose trees date back 800 years.
The barrows are at the top of Kingley Valeon Bow Hill, known as "Kings-Graves " or "Devil's Humps"
Lots of legeds and folklore suround this site, with tales of Vikings, Burried Treasure and Druids.
It is quite a trek to the top of the hill, but worth it for the ambience and the views

It is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under European wildlife legislation, and is a wonderful place to explore.
See this site for further details etc
http://www.northernearth.co.uk/88kingley.htm

Moonwatcher

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