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Visiting the Past: Finding and Understanding Britain's Archaeology

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Whiteleaf Barrows - Long Barrow in England in Buckinghamshire

Submitted by thecaptain on Sunday, 09 September 2007  Page Views: 18327

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Whiteleaf Barrows
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 2.1 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Buckinghamshire Type: Long Barrow
Nearest Town: Princes Risborough
Map Ref: SP82220398  Landranger Map Number: 165
Latitude: 51.728518N  Longitude: 0.810944W
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.
 5 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.
 4 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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JohnLindsay visited - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Why would you want to drive to something like this and make that the first option? The best walk is up Kop Hill, then into Brush Hill Nature reserve, along the path, it is easy to find. The other two aren't quite as easy and the site calls one a mill mound, but why would you build a mill mound when you already have this? Walk down Peter's Lane, a bit of a rat run (all those people driving to see the monument), but managable. Bus stop for the 300 at the bottom, called Peter's Lane. http://www.biab.ac.uk/all_content?search=whiteleaf incidently gives references for reading. I don't remember whether I knew about BIAB earlier.

TheCaptain have visited here

Whiteleaf Barrows
Whiteleaf Barrows submitted by thecaptain : On the top of the hill above Whiteleaf Cross there are several ancient remains, including three prehistoric barrows. The most obvious barrow, a neolithic longbarrow, is to be found just to the southeast of the top of the giant chalk cross, and this has in recent years been re-excavated and restored, after many years of erosion. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The little old market town of Princes Risborough is situated in one of the few gaps through the escarpment of the Chiltern Hills. Just to the northeast of the town is the steep scarp face upon which Whiteleaf Cross has been carved. On the top of the hill here are several ancient remains, including three prehistoric barrows.

The most obvious barrow, a neolithic longbarrow, is to be found just to the southeast of the top of the giant chalk cross, and this has in recent years been re-excavated and restored, after many years of erosion. At the time of my visit in 2006, the barrow was still fenced off in order to allow settlement and regrowth of a protective layer of grass to establish itself.

A bit further to the north along the hilltop are the much less significant remains of two bronze age round barrows, both much disturbed.

The Ridgeway ancient track follows the ridge of the hill above the cross, and past all of these above mentioned features. At the foot of the steep slopes passes the Icknield Way.

There is also a Cross Ridge dyke, which may be as old as bronze age, and may have been defensive or a land boundary.

The cross itself has its first known and definite mention from 1738, but is possibly much much older, and was possibly changed into a cross from a fertility symbol shape which had existed here for hundreds of years beforehand, with speculation that it is Saxon or earlier in origin.

There are other earthworks and ditches to be found amongst the beech woods at the top of the hills here, which are thought to be the remnants of first world war vintage "practice" trenches.

Nowadays, the hillside has been tidied up, much erosion to the cross and surrounding area restored, and a car park and picnic area created. The views from the top of the cross, out over the town of Princes Risborough, the Vale of Aylesbury, and southwestwards along the edge of the Chiltern Hills (along which the Ridgeway runs) are stunning on a fine day.

Note: See comment on converting Whiteleaf cross into original fertility symbol.
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Whiteleaf Barrows
Whiteleaf Barrows submitted by thecaptain : The little old market town of Princes Risborough is situated in one of the few gaps through the escarpment of the Chiltern Hills. Just to the northeast of the town is the steep scarp face upon which Whiteleaf Cross has been carved. On the top of the hill here are several ancient remains, including three prehistoric barrows. The cross itself has its first known and definite mention from 1738, ... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Whiteleaf Barrows
Whiteleaf Barrows submitted by thecaptain : The views from the top of the cross, out over the town of Princes Risborough, the Vale of Aylesbury, and southwestwards along the edge of the Chiltern Hills (along which the Ridgeway runs) are stunning on a fine day. Unfortunately, it was very hazy when I was there taking there pictures. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Whiteleaf Barrows
Whiteleaf Barrows submitted by thecaptain : On the top of the hill above Whiteleaf Cross are several ancient remains, including three prehistoric barrows. A neolithic longbarrow is to be found near the top of the giant chalk cross, and this has in recent years been re-excavated and restored, after many years of erosion. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Whiteleaf Barrows
Whiteleaf Barrows submitted by thecaptain : On the hilltop above Whiteleaf Cross are the remains of two bronze age round barrows, both much disturbed. This one is at the northern edge of the cleared area on the hilltop above the cross. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Whiteleaf Barrows
Whiteleaf Barrows submitted by thecaptain : On the hilltop above Whiteleaf Cross are the remains of two bronze age round barrows, both much disturbed. This one is pretty much directly above the cross.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.4km WSW 245° Princes Risborough Puddingstone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SP80970338)
 1.4km NE 45° Pulpit Hill* Hillfort (SP832050)
 2.1km NNE 16° Ragpit Cross Dykes Misc. Earthwork (SP82750600)
 2.1km NNE 16° Ragpit Hill Cross Dyke Misc. Earthwork (SP82750601)
 2.2km NNE 23° Ragpit Cross Dyke Misc. Earthwork (SP83020598)
 4.0km ESE 121° Grim's Ditch Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SP857020)
 4.8km WSW 249° The Lyde Spring* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP778022)
 4.8km SW 216° Lodge Hill Round Barrow(s) (SP79400004)
 4.9km SW 224° Lodge Hill Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SP78840041)
 4.9km SW 215° Lodge Hill Settlement Ancient Village or Settlement (SU79479990)
 5.0km NE 52° Bacombe Hill Bowl Barrow Round Barrow(s) (SP86130709)
 5.0km NE 52° Bacombe Hill Barrow Cemetery (SP86160712)
 5.4km SE 141° Denner Hill Puddingstone Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SU857998)
 5.6km SE 129° Stonygreen Puddingstone Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SP866005)
 5.7km WSW 241° The Cop (Chinnor) Round Barrow(s) (SP773011)
 5.8km S 187° Smalldean Round Barrow(s) (SU816982)
 5.9km S 170° Chilterns Grims Ditch* Misc. Earthwork (SU833982)
 6.4km WSW 239° Chinnor Hill Barrows* Round Barrow(s) (SP76760063)
 6.9km S 176° Bradenham Puddingstone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SU828971)
 7.2km ENE 57° Boddington Camp* Hillfort (SP882080)
 8.7km S 179° Church Hill Trackway Ancient Trackway (SU82469533)
 8.7km S 179° Celtic field system on Church Hill Misc. Earthwork (SU82559530)
 9.0km S 178° West Wycombe Camp* Hillfort (SU82769499)
 9.1km NNW 343° Hartwell Springs* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP7939412589)
 9.2km S 177° Church Hill Celtic Fields Misc. Earthwork (SU82809480)
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"Whiteleaf Barrows" | Login/Create an Account | 29 News and Comments
  
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Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by Zooks777 on Sunday, 15 August 2021
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Not obviously elongate, more circular on the Environment Agency lidar (grey icon next to that for CamRA)
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Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by Andy B on Sunday, 15 April 2018
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The other main barrow is at SP82220398
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Re: Campaign to turn Whiteleaf Cross back to former glory by Anonymous on Friday, 19 October 2007
From what I can gather the Barrow wasn't moved. Though it was compleatly restored yet covered in a Chalky pulp to then protect it.
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Campaign to turn Whiteleaf Cross back to former glory by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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A campaign to transform Risborough's Whiteleaf Cross into a giant phallus met with stiff opposition this week from the town's religious and civic leaders.
The bid has been launched on website MySpace by a man known only by his nickname of Fleas. He claims that the hill carving was once in the shape of a phallus but was adapted by monks into a cross.

In a petition which he wants those in favour to e-mail Bucks County Council, Fleas says: "The abomination in its present form was carried out to sever us from our ancient heritage and beliefs that once worked with nature instead of against her."

He continues that the hill carving is on the direct line from the mid summer sunrise at Stonehenge and the area was known locally as Waylands Stock, with 'stock' referring to 'phallus' in ancient times.

However, the Mayor of Princes Risborough and curate at St Mary's Church questioned the historical accuracy behind the campaign and added that they would be against any change.

Cllr Alan Turner said: "I think the cross has been there for centuries that we know of and it has religious symbolism. We should definitely keep it."

The Rev James Tomkins added: "I think that to change it from a cross to a phallus would cause offence to a number of people, not only within the immediate vicinity but from miles around because it is such a landmark. It is a symbol of our Christian heritage."

In an exclusive interview with The Bucks Herald, Fleas, who says he is a 42-year-old family man now living in Essex, said: "I grew up in the shadow of Whiteleaf Cross and lived in Princes Risborough until the late 1970s. Many years later I found myself reminiscing and took to reading old books about the Chilterns and Buckinghamshire in general. Although there is no known written record of an actual phallus on the hill many writers of old, and even modern antiquarians, conjecture that it was a strong possibility. It would seem our native folk were quite a racy lot and we only have to look to The Cerne Abbas chalk hill carving to see that he stands up to that fact rather well."

"The campaign, although rather tongue in cheek, is a serious proposal," he added. The cross was first recorded by Francis Wise in 1742, who became the first to speculate on its origins by suggesting that it was constructed by a Saxon king to commemorate a battle.

However, Julia Carey, the county council's countryside officer, said that when recent renovation work was carried out on the cross no evidence was found to suggest it dated to pagan times, and that 'stock' has several different translations.
http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/Campaign-to-turn-Whiteleaf-Cross.3222133.jp
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    Re: Campaign to turn Whiteleaf Cross back to former glory by Andy B on Thursday, 18 October 2007
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    "back to former glory"
    "a giant phallus met with stiff opposition"
    Someone at the Bucks Herald is 'aving a laugh. That's the best double entendering I've seen in a long while. I hope everyone there has a sense of humour and they still have a job next week!
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Campaign to turn Whiteleaf Cross back to former glory by AngieLake on Thursday, 18 October 2007
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      That was pretty clever Andy, but I wonder why they didn't pun on 'stock' too... that could give a few good puns, eh?
      Like - the cross was the original 'Stock Exchange' ?
      If they put a fence around it will it be a 'Stockade'??
      [ Reply to This ]

Long Barrow by coldrum on Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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There is talk that the neolithic long barrow was moved to make it more accessible.
Any ideas any-one.
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    Re: Long Barrow by Anonymous on Friday, 19 October 2007
    Bucks CC do not mention moving the Barrow in the plans proposed for the area that are on the folling link {with a bit of searching once there} however they have as it was once set slightly further to the left on approach from the car park.
    It was always tucked away within some trees looking rather sorry for its self. Although the trees have been cleared slightly now it is still obvious that it has been moved furher to the right presumably to make it more of a feature for the visiters.

    http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/home/index.jsp
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by Anonymous on Saturday, 13 October 2007
http://myspace.com/waylandstock
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Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by Anonymous on Monday, 08 October 2007
Massingham, Leonald Bull, and Chilterns Magazine Winter 1949 all refer to the Charter dated ad903 of the area stating a stock of a Phallic nature as part of the boundary along with black hedges. It is likely then that when the Saxons found the Neolithic carving it was they who named it as they did with so much in Briton. The Monks re-carved it into a cross in the 1400s, and in the 1900s the triangular base was added on request by the Earl of Buckingham.
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    Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by Anonymous on Monday, 22 October 2007
    The Earl only widend it, it did have a narrower base that was still flared. Still possibly to have concealed lower parts of an exsisting Phallus then.
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Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by coldrum on Saturday, 15 September 2007
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I quite like the idea.
The more phallic symbols on view the better.

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Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by ulmus on Sunday, 09 September 2007
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if that is what it was then it needs to be repaired to its original form,
bb, chris
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CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by coldrum on Sunday, 09 September 2007
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CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL

A campaigner has asked Buckinghamshire County Council to alter a chalk cross on a hill in the Chilterns because it was originally in the shape of a phallus, he claims.

The campaigner, who has posted his call to arms on the Modern Antiquarian website, points out that the area around Princes Risborough was known locally as Waylands Stock before monks arrived in the area in the 1400s.

Wayland is the Saxons’ ancient god of smithing, and stock, says the campaigner, means phallus.
The hillside carving could have been, therefore, a pagan symbol later adapted by monks bringing the Christian religion to the area. The Whiteleaf is first recorded in 1742, so its origins are shrouded in mystery. There are also prehistoric burial mounds on the hill, which the campaigner says adds weight to the likelihood that it was a sacred site in ancient times.

“It would be most fitting then for us now to rename the carving back to Waylands Stock,” says his letter to the county council, “and return it to its intended form as a massive Phallus standing most boldly erect upon the hillside.”
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART50352.html
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    Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by TheCaptain on Sunday, 09 September 2007
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    I'd be interested to see any evidence this person has for his claims. After all, many people have been looking into the history of this cross for many centuries, and no evidence for its original form has ever been found.

    Mind you, we have it on good authority here that it was originally a pyramid, and Kieren's brother should know, shouldn't he, cos he's "a Druid who is VERY well known and has published works".
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by Anonymous on Monday, 08 October 2007
      The pyramid was added by the Earl of Buckingham in the 1900s though why I do not know, the cross part was added by Monks in the 1400s, the Stock was neaolithic and the Saxons used it as a boundary marker and named it Waylands Stock.
      It faces west too like other Neolithic religious sacred places and also was a beacon hill.
      [ Reply to This ]
    Re: CAMPAIGN TO REVERT CHILTERNS CHALK CROSS TO FERTILITY SYMBOL by Andy B on Thursday, 13 September 2007
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    And I see you Captain posted about the phallus idea almost a year ago on this page of our venerable organ (although it has to be said the 900AD reference to it did slightly beat us to it). So much for the newsworthiness of this item 24hour museum bods...!
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by TheCaptain on Saturday, 08 September 2007
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Interesting website to keep you occupied here
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Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by TheCaptain on Sunday, 22 October 2006
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Whle at my Dad's over the weekend, I was looking through a book he has about the history of Princes Risborough. In the book are several photographs of Whiteleaf Cross going back to the late 1800's. The size of the base of the cross can be seen to be growing through these photographs. The book also has a picture of an old drawing dated to 1740 something, and the base of the cross is very narrow indeed, and could not in any way be considered to be a pyramid. More like a pedestal.
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Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by TheCaptain on Friday, 20 October 2006
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The 903 AD Saxon reference referred to a boundary mark at Whiteleaf called Weland's stock (or pole), suggesting a long thin shape cut into the hill. The age old stories like to think of the cross being cut to hide a phallic shape in the past centuries. There is possibly a 14th century tile in the village church with a version of the cross marked on it. It is known as fact that the triangular base is much bigger in modern times than it was in the past, and indeed the not too distant past, as the base is almost double the size it was 50 years ago.

Google about for Whiteleaf Cross, and all sorts of history etc are to be discovered. But not a mention of a pyramid to be found.

It seems likely that the cross is a marker on the scarp to guide people to the Gap through the Chiltern Hills, with its companion Bledlow Cross on the hillside on the southern side of the gap. These two white marks would have been very useful to guide people to the gap through the hills, and thus onwards towards the Thames.

Perhaps we should give the Cross its own sitepage, which I havnt done as its ancientness cannot be known for sure, and tehre are other websites for hillfigures
.
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Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by JimChampion on Thursday, 19 October 2006
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How old is this 'pyramid' interpretation supposed to be? In Paul Newman's "Lost Gods of Albion (The chalk hill figures of Britain)" he references a Saxon charter of the area from AD 903 which makes no mention of, or allusion to, the pyramid or cross. At this time the hillslope was called "easterern brisan byrge", meaning "the eastern hill covered with brushwood". The traditional interpretation is that the figure was cut in the 16th or 17th centrury. There are some theories concerning 'alignments' using the sides of the triangle, but recutting of the figure during the Victorian era makes these difficult to investigate further. I recommend the book mentioned above, and it contains scholarly references!
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    Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by Anonymous on Monday, 08 October 2007
    The Earl of Buckingham had the sides made wider in the 1900s, though why I do not know. Also the bottom of the hill was nicknamed the Globe long ago too.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by Kieren on Wednesday, 18 October 2006
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It was originally a Pyramid, the cross was added on the top to 'Christianise' the site later on.
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    Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by TheCaptain on Wednesday, 18 October 2006
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    "interesting" theory. Have you anything to back this up, as I have not heard this one before (and my family can be traced back hundreds of years within a few miles of the cross). Equally I cannot find any evidence, nor even speculation for this.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by Kieren on Wednesday, 18 October 2006
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      My older brother told me. I am from Hertfordshire and my bro is a Druid who is VERY well known and has published works, it was him who told me the story when we passed it.
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      Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by bat400 on Thursday, 19 October 2006
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      Can you tell us some of the publications and his name, for those interested? Perhaps something on this site or area?
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      Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by coldrum on Saturday, 15 September 2007
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      The pyramid theory I have read somewhere. It was some time back now but it was a book on British Hill figures.
      If i remember the title i'll post it.
      [ Reply to This ]

Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by mishkin on Wednesday, 18 October 2006
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Interesting site with all those religious connotations. Somehow seems strange that the cross was placed below the neolithic barrow in apparent subjection, rather then the other way round. Perhaps it was in recognition of a sacred burial ground..
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Re: Whiteleaf Barrows by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 17 October 2006
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For lots more info see here
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