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<< Our Photo Pages >> Waulud's Bank - Henge in England in Bedfordshire

Submitted by bec-zog on Wednesday, 06 September 2023  Page Views: 32972

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Waulud's Bank Alternative Name: Wauluds Bank
Country: England County: Bedfordshire Type: Henge
Nearest Town: Luton  Nearest Village: Lower Sundon
Map Ref: TL062247  Landranger Map Number: 166
Latitude: 51.910719N  Longitude: 0.457513W
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.
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.
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
3

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Brian_Eyes visited on 31st Dec 2018 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5

JohnLindsay visited on 1st Jan 2012 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 This is almost opposite Leagrave Station so a really short walk, towered over by gargantuan housing in Luton. The combination of four thousand years of humanity makes a stunning contrast. This is also the source of the river Lea, or Lee, looking at the moment like a muddy puddle. My imagination has the ring, which might be a better word than ditch, filled with water again, puddled with white clay and a Midsummer Night's Dream being performed on the stage. Theseus and Hippolya, Phaedre and Hipplolytus, Shakespeare, Aeschylus, Euripedes is made for a place like this, and would put Luton onto the OlyUNpics (which is the cultural alternative to running 26 miles).



Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 4 Access: 4.5

Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by JoAtherton : This ditched enclosure is thought to be a 5,000 year old Neolithic henge, although some archaeological finds from the area are much older, dating back an astounding 10,000 years. Undoubtedly, the sanctity of the area is down to it being where the River Lea rises in a series of springs, welcoming the watery underworld out into the daylight. It is a challenge to try and imagine what must have b... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Waulud's Bank is a Neolithic D shaped enclosure at Leagrave in Bedfordshire located at the source of the river Lea. It consists of a bank and external ditch of around 7 hectares with a turf reveted chalk & gravel bank, derived from the ditch material.

The ditch is 9.2 m wide and 2.1m deep. Finds include: neolithic Grooved Ware & flint arrow heads. It is a similar site to Durringtom Walls & Marden and was later re-used in the Iron Age and during the Roman occupation.

Reference: A Selkirk Archeology 3(1972-3) 173

Note: Ancient Tribes, Mystical Vibes and Lygetun (Town of Light), this Sunday 10th September with talks, tours and activities all day at Marsh House Community Centre, more in the comments
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Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by bec-zog : Waulud's Bank.Neolithic @ Leagrave TL 062,247 Bank , 2.6 m high, viewed from position of external ditch (6m wide). Grooved wear and flint finds from central enclosure (Vote or comment on this photo)

Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by bec-zog : Waulud's Bank Neolithic Tl 062,247 Leagrave, Bedfordshire Bank and external ditch around a 7 hectare D shaped enclosure At the source of the river Lea. Turf reveted chalk & gravel bank (from ditch material). Ditch 9.2 m wide 2.1m deep. Finds include; neolithic grooved ware & flint arrow heads. Similar site to Durringtom Walls & Marden Site re-used in iron age and during roman occupation ... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by JoAtherton : This ditched enclosure is thought to be a 5,000 year old Neolithic henge, although some archaeological finds from the area are much older, dating back an astounding 10,000 years. Undoubtedly, the sanctity of the area is down to it being where the River Lea rises in a series of springs, welcoming the watery underworld out into the daylight. It is a challenge to try and imagine what must have b... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by Brian_Eyes : Looking up at the bank from bottom of ditch on east side of Waulud's Bank. From bottom of ditch to top of bank is about 2 meters at this point. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by Brian_Eyes : Looking down from the bank into the ditch on the east side of Waulud's Bank.

Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by Brian_Eyes : South-western part of Waulud's Bank, quite hidden behind bushes. The bank is about 2.5 meters high at this point. The river Lea runs to the west of the bank and is behind the fence on the left.

Waulud's Bank
Waulud's Bank submitted by bec-zog : Waulud's Bank Neolithic TL062247 Leagrave, Bedfordshire Bank and external ditch aound 7 hectare D shaped enclosure At the source of the river Lea.. Turf reveted chalk & gravel bank (from ditch material). Ditch 9.2 m wide 2.1m deep. Finds include neolithic grooved ware & flint arrow heads . Similar site to Durringtom Walls & Marden Site re-used in iron age and during roman occupation Ref...

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"Waulud's Bank" | Login/Create an Account | 16 News and Comments
  
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Ancient Tribes, Mystical Vibes and Lygetun (Town of Light), Sunday 10th September by Andy B on Wednesday, 06 September 2023
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Marsh House Community Centre, Bramingham Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU3 2SR

Ancient Tribes, Mystical Vibes and Lygetun (Town of Light). Come along to Marsh House and immerse yourself in the history of this culturally important Luton landmark.

Join us on a journey charting the historical roots of Luton from early life as a Neolithic settlement where the River Lea rises, through centuries of tribal, mystical, archaeological, agricultural and cultural history underpinning the development of our town, our people and our communities.

Marsh House is located close to the source of the River Lea and the scheduled ancient monument, Waulud's Bank. Originally a farmhouse for Marsh Farm, also known as Ford’s Farm, the building now sits within Leagrave Common, a County Wildlife Site. Since the 1970s the building has cemented its position as an important centre for youth culture in the town.

Attendees on the day will be treated to a series of heritage talks and tours about the house and surrounding area, coordinated by Glenn Jenkins and his associates at Marsh Farm Outreach.

This event has been made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Sunday 10 September: 1300-1600

No booking required

Max 50 people per tour/session. Contact for the day: Carly Smith 07951 634792

More: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/marsh-house
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Sunday, 21 October 2012
I used to play here as a kid, I even went to Waulards school right next to it , they told us kids it was a battle ground /fort of a Roman guy called Waulard, but to me and my mates it was the best and highest jump for our grifter and bmx bikes, I can remember when the farmer ploughed the field we would find lots of pottery and arrow heads , I'm 45 now and I have a strange fascination for Avebury stone circle and the so called leylines. I'e learnt that there is a massive and well documented leyline starting from the tip of Cornwall and stretching to great Yarmouth, it cuts Avebury stone circle right through the middle and many main churches and buildings are built on it . I was amazed to find that it cuts through Luton, so I went looking for signs. I had no idea it was right on my doorstep and I knew it so well.

I looked into how words have changed slightly over hundreds of years and found the Roman called Waulard was not his name he was a (war lord) the other school I went to in the area was called Lea Manor, the name lea has changed over the years from ley of leyline to lea, carry this on and you have the river (ley ) instead of lea. Chornley school, Leyland school, Leygrave and Leygrave Road and lots lots more including Henge Way right next to it but totally ignored by everyone. Even the closest village you mentioned, Sundon village and Sundon Park should be sundown because they worshipped the sun and the moon and aligned the stone circles to them, so there should have been stone circles but I think they have been long lost. It even leys (!) on a chalk bed of underground aquifers just like Stonehenge and Avebury, the coincidences are far too much to ignore, it’s a pity someone doesn’t develop this site.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Tuesday, 28 July 2015
    That's pretty interesting stuff - I used to play there as a kid too and had no idea the history associated with the bank. Right under our noses too.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Sunday, 25 October 2015
      Hallo,
      My name is Hans Leijgraaff. I am interested in genealogy and often surf the internet to get info. Your suggestion that leagrave might in the past have been leygrave is interesting. The second wetnurse of Edward II was called Alicia de Leygrave. At that time french was language of upper class and therefore "de" means "of". This info may be of interst toyour suggestion.
      kind regards, Hans Leijgraaff
      [ Reply to This ]

Re: Waulud's Bank by coldrum on Tuesday, 30 March 2010
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Re: Waulud's Bank by coldrum on Monday, 29 June 2009
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Pastscape site entry:

http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=359652
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Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Sunday, 15 March 2009
having recently moved to the area i decided to look at the local prehistoric remains i have been really suprised by the abundance of sites in this area, i am really intrested how they all are very close to rivers & triburtaries it would be really good to find some trackways that relate to the sites in south beds.
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Re: Waulud's Bank by Andy B on Tuesday, 08 April 2008
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Agreed, our text says "Neolithic D shaped enclosure". We deliberately don't have too many site categories to keep things simple and Henge seemed the closest category to what it is.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Waulud's Bank by IronAgeDave on Monday, 07 April 2008
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I'm not so sure you can categorically call it a henge from the 1953 excavations reported by Dyer (Dyer, J 1961 'Waulud's Bank, Leagrave' in Bedfordshire Magazine vol 8 pages 57-64) suggests that the surrounding site would have been marshland and with a bank and ditch on the remaining sides having circa 8ft deep and 20ft wide ditches would be fairly substantial defences for neolithic standards. The bank itself is incomplete design and Dyer points out that the walls are heavily mutilated to ploughing and would have been much higher.

Granted the fact that there is not much evidence of later occupation on the site except for sporadic Iron age finds is percieved as temporal occupation and as Dyer puts it 'squatters,' however again it is difficult to assume this if the earth has been under the plough in previous centuries.

Dyer points out that a community could easily be sustainable and with the abundance of fish and fowl etc. One should use caution when mentioning the word 'henge' and think about what the word means and how it can be incorporated when looking at prehistoric societies which is always going to be tentative.

To me it is a place of habitation and whether the earthworks were of defence or not is reallly insignificant to its primary function. The only posibilities realistically are protection, boundary (ie statement of territory and yes this could include religous possiblities though difficult to prove), or aesthetic show.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Friday, 03 February 2006
Late March to April you'll find the area encircled by the Bank covered in 'fairy rings' of big fat mushrooms. I plundered a couple and believe they are what are now called St George's mushrooms. Obviously, since George is claimed to have killed the dragon and the dragon is analagous to the ancient Goddess deity, these must have been pretty holy mushrooms. I ate a couple with no adverse affects, but they're pretty damned tasty..!
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Tuesday, 17 May 2005
Waulud's Bank the home of king lud lord of light. The stone now all gone once a very important place of sacred importance the stones are now under the flats of five springs the flats will sink because uder them there are dragons fight to get out.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Wednesday, 16 February 2005
Thanks. I expect you're right, and that the artist's impression you saw was not strictly accurate. Still, I suspect that there is still a lot more to be discovered about Waulud's Bank, since, as you know, the archaeological investigations were based solely on trenches dug across the bank, at only 4 points...could there be ritual or other deposits elesewhere? It is intriguing how the site has been described as being a ceremonial or ritual one - whilst the ditch is on the *outside* in a way I would more typically expect of a defensive site (I guess they refer to its ceremonial usage because of its similarities to other sites which have been more throughly excavated).

So, probably no stones, but hey, you never know! I am quite near it and often visit, trying to visualise what the place must have been like before the tower blocks and McDonald's...have you seen the aerial photo from the 1950s (in one of the archaeological journal write-ups - Dyer's?)- it looked very rural then...

cheers Sifaka
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Thursday, 10 July 2003
Hello, I live about ten minutes walk fromWauluds bank, and would like to point out that wauluds bank is not a hill fort, indeed the local museum describes it as a henge. Looking at it I would be inclined to agree, although from reconstructive artists impresions I would describes it as a 'semi' henge as it appears that the river Lea (the source of which is not far way) forms one side of the enclosure.
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    Re: Waulud's Bank by bec-zog on Thursday, 14 August 2003
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    Waulads Bank is indeed a HENGE.
    Some records indicate presence of Standing Stones existing in 16th century.
    Excavations carried out by several archeologists . see James Dyer's, books
    eg a)
    Discovering Prehistoric Sites
    b) Southern England An archgeolgical guide
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Waulud's Bank by Anonymous on Wednesday, 19 January 2005
    Hi bec-zog, interesting stuff. Do you have references for the "standing stones still extant in the C16th"? I know the Dyer dig write ups in various archaeological journals and don't think he mentions any stones. But the 2 books you mention: would they refer to them?

    Cheers, Sifaka
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Waulud's Bank by bec-zog on Monday, 24 January 2005
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      Sorry, I have no references to this.
      Back in the late 50's I was shown a ~16th century drawing of Leagrave (the source of the river Lea) by the late Dr. J Dony who was my history tutor at the Luton Grammar school. This was an artist impression of Wauluds Bank and included standing stones marking an apparent "entrance".
      However, there is no evidence of standing stones ever having been located at this site, and having spoken to James Dyer about it I believe the diagram was probably not accurate.
      There were some Pudding Stone boundary markers around Luton, and at river crossing points, which have long since been destroyed.(The last being located on Market Hill until the "developers" threw it away!).


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