Details

The monument includes a henge situated on the floor of a shallow valley, 370m
north east of Drove Cottage.
The henge includes a circular bank 11.5m wide and 0.4m high, inside which is a
ditch 6m wide and 0.3m deep. Both bank and ditch are broken by a single
entrance on the north west side and enclose a circular central area 19m in
diameter. Near to the entrance on this central area, which slopes gently to
the west, is a low oval mound. The overall diameter of the henge is 54m.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Henges are ritual or ceremonial centres which date to the Late Neolithic
period (2800-2000 BC). They were constructed as roughly circular or oval-
shaped enclosures comprising a flat area over 20m in diameter enclosed by a
ditch and external bank. One, two or four entrances provided access to the
interior of the monument, which may have contained a variety of features
including timber or stone circles, post or stone alignments, pits, burials or
central mounds. Finds from the ditches and interiors of henges provide
important evidence for the chronological development of the sites, the types
of activity that occurred within them and the nature of the environment in
which they were constructed. Henges occur throughout England with the
exception of south-eastern counties and the Welsh Marches. They are generally
situated on low ground, often close to springs and water-courses. Henges are
rare nationally with about 80 known examples. As one of the few types of
identified Neolithic structures and in view of their comparative rarity, all
henges are considered to be of national importance.

Despite having been ploughed in the past, the henge, 370m north east of Drove
Cottage survives well and is still clearly visible as an earthwork. The
monument will contain archaeological remains providing information about
Neolithic beliefs, economy and environment.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Tratman, E K, 'Proceedings of the University of Bristol Speleological Society' in Another Henge Monument On Mendip, , Vol. 8, (1958), 124-125

Source: Historic England