ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



having been used. The long beam was pierced by two oblong holes, and the 

 transverse had a similar hole in each of its arms. The cross was laid due east 

 and west. Unfortunately local enterprise was unequal to further exploration, 

 although the remaining larger portion might yield that which would prove it 

 to be a tumulus of exceptional interest. 



KIBWORTH HARCOURT (Ixv, 6). Situated in Hall Field, north-west of 

 the village, and east of the ancient road which crossed the county, is a large 

 bell-shaped barrow. From north to south the mound is about 52ft., from 

 east to west 40 ft., and 14 ft. in height at the apex ; this was surrounded by 

 a ditch, which on the south-west is 9 ft. wide and nearly 5 ft. deep, but it is 

 almost level with the ground on the opposite side. It was opened in the 

 forties to search for treasure, and some articles were found ; again, in 1869, it 

 was explored, when a bone bodkin and ' traces of a paved floor,' probably a 

 cist, were discovered. A scientific search has since been made, and at a depth 

 of 5 ft., in a layer of black soil, ashes, fragments of burnt wood, bones, teeth, 

 pottery and iron, Were found. 



KIRBY BELLARS (xix, 12). At a corner of a field abutting on the village 

 road is a round tumulus, 1 8 ft. in diameter and 5 ft. in height. Two other 

 conical mounds planted with trees are in a line south-east of the church, 

 900 ft. apart ; each of them is about 45 ft. in diameter and nearly 20 ft. high. 



LAUNDE (xxxiii, 11). A tumulus is situated a quarter of a mile south- 

 east from Sanvey Castle. 



LEICESTER (xxxi, 14). In the centre of the inner ward of Leicester 

 Castle was, until recently, a tumulus, in which were found two decapitated 

 skeletons, probably a witness to mediaeval executions. 1 



MEDBOURNE (xlvi, 7). Three tumuli were formerly to the north-west 

 of the village ; two have been destroyed and a mill stands on the third. 



MELTON MOWBRAY (xx, 9). 'The Mound ' at Mount Pleasant, south- 

 west of the town, is a large tumulus planted with trees. It is on the site of 

 an action between the Royalist and Parliamentarian troops in February, 1 644, 

 when the latter were routed, leaving 170 killed. 



PECKLETON (xxxvi, 5). A mound, or tumulus, stands near the moated 

 Manor House. 



RATCLIFFE ON THE WREAK (xxv, 8). Between the Fosse Way and the 

 river. North of Lewen Bridge is a large tumulus called ' Shipley Hill.' 

 It is rectangular in plan with a slight curve on its long axis 240 ft. 

 long, 60 ft. wide, and 40 ft. high. It has been partially excavated on the 

 east side. 



SALTBY (xiv, 2). Close to the south side of 'King Lud's Entrench- 

 ments ' are three tumuli ; one of them is but 2 ft. in height, the others are 

 5 ft. and 8 ft. respectively. 



SHAWELL (lii, 12). A large bell-shaped barrow is in a field south of the 

 church, but the ditch is for the greater part lost. 



STOKE GOLDING (xxxv, 14). In a field north-west of the vicarage is a 

 tumulus 7 ft. in height. 



1 Lett. Arch, Sac. Proc. and local news. 



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