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Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | At Barrow Hill on Mersea Island, Essex stands this Romano-British barrow. Take the B1025 fromColchester, cross the Strood at low tide and the conspicuous mound can be found at TM 021149 on the East Mersea Road almost opposite Dawes Lane.
Excavated in 1912, the barrow is 23 ft high and 110 ft around. There is an entance protected by an iron gate and a passage leading to a tiny chamber which contained cremated remains in a glass vessel. Local legend tells that the ghosts of two Viking brothers are doomed to fight each night for the love of the same woman.
There is also a rare Roman wheel tomb in a private garden to the east of West Mersea church. It has a circular wall 65ft in diameter with internal walls radiating like spokes from a central chamber. |
| Posted Comments: cecilia
(2004-04-06) | I´m chilean, but I love the beautiful Essex ! | Stephen
(2005-01-02) | Can you throw any light on the concrete supports inside and how much of the original interior is still insitu? | Stephen
(2005-01-02) | P.S. Besides the suprising concrete this is well worth a look at if you are in the area. | Thorgrim
(2005-01-03) | Hi Stephen - the concrete is there to support the interior. No local stone so the mound is just earth which would collapse without support. I have only been inside one and it was realy spooky with a dark pool of water at the bottom of the passage. Great atmosphere! | Stephen
(2005-01-07) | Hi Thorgrim-thanks for your reply. I was worried that it had been used as some sort of storage facility in the recent past, I'm relieved to hear that it has not. I would love to look inside, how do you go about getting permission to view it?
| Thorgrim
(2005-01-07) | Stephen - I got into the barrow by accident - the gate was unlocked. There is a very interesting local history museum at West Mersea and I think that they may have the key (or know who does) Good luck! |
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