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Robin Hoods Bower is indeed an odd place. Not much to see but the atmosphere is quite unnerving. Dark, dense monkey puzzle trees obscure much of the light, even on the brightest day. It is known for being the place where King Alfred the Great camped/met with his troops in 878 on the eve of the momentous Battle of Edington where he defeated Gudrun and his Danes, chasing them all the way back to Chippenham. I'd guess the large oak tree may have been a good and well-known meeting place (as was Egbert's Stone where he met the bulk of his troops, about 20km away). I'd also guess the diamond-shaped earthwork surrounding the large stump was a later addition to mark or commemorate the spot where the great King encamped.
I don't think Heaven's Gate has any connection to the Bower... I think it is so named because it's a very steep climb to get up there! And when you are up there, you feel as though you are at quite some altitude, with a steep drop in front of you. It is simply a small clearing on the Wiltshire/Somerset border with a fantastic view which overlooks Longleat House and surrounding countryside as far as the Mendip Hills.
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