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Silbury Hill may be reclassified

Submitted by PaulM on Monday, 17 May 2004  Page Views: 3136

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Silbury Hill
Silbury Hill submitted by technopagans : Avebury in summer (Vote or comment on this photo)
An attempt will be made today to have a hill reclassified as a building to protect one of the most enigmatic prehistoric structures in Europe. Ramblers may gain a theoretical entitlement to walk up the sides of Silbury Hill in Wiltshire if the largest manmade mound in Europe is classified as "open countryside" under the countryside and rights of way bill.

The highest profile objectors to the draft maps so far are celebrities includ ing Madonna, anxious to protect their privacy.

The guardians of the 4,700-year-old hill have been trying to persuade people to keep off Silbury since 1974, when it was closed to the public, without destroying its appearance with intrusive fencing. The monument came close to destruction three years ago when torrential winter rain seeped into shafts left by earlier excavation, which collapsed. Although English Heritage has carried out repairs, the whole structure is vulnerable.

The hill would appear on maps as a small and steep patch of open countryside because the surrounding ploughed fields would not be classed as open land.

The hill is manmade: archaeologists believe the work took up to a century, and 35m baskets of chalk. The argument that it should therefore be classed as a building will be made by Lord Avebury, at a planning inspectorate meeting today. English Heritage, the National Trust and local heritage bodies back him.

English Heritage said: "We support the need to continue to restrict public access to Silbury Hill as the wear and tear this would cause could easily damage the valuable archaeology of the hill." Lord Avebury has the freehold of the land, although his grandfather gave the monument to the nation in 1883.

Silbury Hill was one of the first British monuments to be given official protection, under the Ancient Monuments Act introduced by his grandfather, Sir John Lubbock, in 1882.

Despite folklore, including legends of a king in a golden crown buried on horseback, no burial has been found inside the mound. As a unique structure it is difficult to date but it is pre-Roman as their road, still the line of the modern road, swerved to avoid it. The hill may have been a platform for ceremonies or just a great status symbol.

Source: The Guardian 17 May 2004
Contributor Bio for PaulM: Based in Macclesfield, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Hordron Edge. Occupation: Something in waste and recycling.

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"Silbury Hill may be reclassified" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Good news at Silbury by Anonymous on Friday, 25 June 2004
Lord Avebury would like to thank all those who supported the appeal.
News today is that we won and Silbury will not be classified as open countryside.
PeteG
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Re: From BBC on-line by PaulM on Monday, 17 May 2004
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Peer's fears over 'pyramid' hill

A peer has compared an ancient monument to the pyramids in a row over the government's right to roam laws.

Lord Avebury says he is "stunned" the Countryside Agency's wants to label Silbury Hill in Wiltshire as "unimproved chalk grassland".

The move could lead to ramblers having free access to the hill, which opponents fear may cause damage.

However, the agency says it took the decision because the 4,700-year-old hill is a "man-made structure".

Lord Avebury spoke at the public inquiry into the wording of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act draft legislation.

The act has already sparked one high-profile spat in Wiltshire with pop star Madonna keen to protect her privacy and estate from walkers and inquisitive sightseers.

On Monday Lord Avebury told the hearing, at Hungerford, Berkshire, the hill was "comparable with the ancient Pyramids of Egypt or the Great Pyramids of Mexico".

Silbury Hill, near Avebury, is thought to date back nearly 5,000 years to the Neolithic period.

Archaeologists from English Heritage began investigating the hill four years ago after a hole appeared in the top, prompting fears it could collapse.
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    Re: From BBC on-line by Thorgrim on Monday, 17 May 2004
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    Good for the Peer. Is the Countryside Agency totally daft? Right to roam over the downs - certainly, but not on the collapsing hill.
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: From BBC on-line by Bunnyhugger on Tuesday, 18 May 2004
      (User Info | Send a Message)
      I emailed the CA and this is what they sent back -

      Some media reporting of the CROW Act and the role of the Countryside Agency
      can often be misleading.

      Here is some background information into Silbury Hill and our role.

      Silbury Hill was taken into guardianship in 1883 and is now in the
      guardianship of the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, on
      whose behalf it is managed by English Heritage under s.34 of the National
      Heritage Act 1983. In 1976 the Ancient Monuments Board imposed access
      restrictions to effectively close the site due to damage and erosion caused
      by public access. English Heritage's intention remains that the
      restrictions will stay in place indefinitely. English Heritage is
      responsible for signage and imposing the current access restriction.

      Silbury Hill falls under the terms of 'Section 15' of the CROW Act. As a
      result, previous access rights or restrictions imposed previously will take
      precedence over CROW. Therefore, although the Countryside Agency may map
      the land as 'open country' under the CROW Act (as this is the CA's duty
      under the Act), there will be a permanent restriction on it for public
      access.

      So it looks like Silbury Hill will be ok. Hope so.
      [ Reply to This ]

Re: From Country Life by PaulM on Monday, 17 May 2004
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Fight to Protect Silbury Hill

English Heritage and landowner Lord Avebury are campaigning to protect the ancient site of Silbury Hill from ramblers.

By Holly Kirkwood

Monday, May 17 2004
A move to re-classify Silbury Hill, a manmade structure dating back to thousands of years BC, as a building to protect it from ramblers is being made today.

Silbury Hill has long been an object of fascination for archaeologists and historians, as the function and precise nature of the structure remains unknown.

It is a hill artificially built into the landscape in Wiltshire, and has been protected for years by the landowner Lord Avebury who owns the site it is built on. However, the re-mapping of land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act is likely to classify the hill as open land, which would mean people could walk over it freely.

Lord Avebury meets today with the planning inspectorate to try and convince them that the site should be protected as a listed building is, as it is manmade.

English Heritage is supportive of the bid, saying: 'Silbury Hill is an ancient man made structure of international and national importance and as such has special needs for protection.

'We support the need to continue to restrict public access to Silbury Hill as the wear and tear this would cause could easily damage the valuable archaeology of the hill.'

The National Trust also agrees that the structure is too fragile to be walked over: 'The National Trust owns 1600 acres of land at Avebury, much of it of archaeological importance. A large part of this land is open for public access and visitors are encouraged to explore the wider countryside when they visit Avebury.'

'Silbury Hill is an isolated, man made structure. Due to its fragility (its archaeology is very near to the surface of the monument), the National Trust believes that uncontrolled public access could potentially damage its archaeology.'

The outcome remains to be seen, but whatever it is, it will be a telling ruling for many landowners who may have particular features they would choose to protect if they could.
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