Andy Burnham's Blog, page 42

Help Right to Roam campaign open up access to Ancient Sites in England and Wales

Use the hashtag #NoRTR to highlight ancient sites in England & Wales with access problems - including here on the Portal. Around 28% of England’s ancient monuments have no legal public right of access. The Right to Roam campaign are calling for an extension to access to bring England in line with Scotland where, since 2003, there has existed a right of responsible access to most land and water.

Teufelskeller Drosa

Top photo: Teufelskeller Drosa under the northern lights - October 2024. Burial Chamber in Saxony-Anhalt. Teufelskeller = devil's cellar. According to the information panel the clear length of the trapezoidal chamber was originally 9.20m. Orientation WNW-ESE. The lost passage was situated at the southern long side, length 3m.

Our Old Stones Book currently on Special Offer at Amazon.co.uk

Amazon UK currently have the best deal I have ever seen on our book The Old Stones: £16.80 so almost half price and with free shipping too. Here's the link to order from Amazon.co.uk and you can also order signed copies from us here, link below on this page. For some bizarre reason they have put us in the bestsellers for Haunted & Unexplained Travel but #2 is amazing!

Cascadia Cave

The walls of the cave - which is mostly a large overhang - have numerous petroglyphs. Judging by the condition of the trail, the cave does not appear to be viewed much these days, however in the past it has seen many visitors. Sadly, as a result of numerous people taking rubbings, many of the petroglyphs have been damaged and are now difficult to discern. Additionally, some of the petroglyphs have been highlighted with red paint by modern "researchers". The cave is located near a river, and at one time was a popular salmon fishing location for native peoples, as well as bears. This may explain the "bear" type petroglyphs - bear claws and scratches.

Yorkshire Museum

Star Carr: Life after the ice showcases artefacts from the Yorkshire Museum collection including the iconic antler headdresses, a unique decorated stone pendant, the world’s oldest complete hunting bow and the earliest evidence of carpentry in Europe. The museum's prehistoric collection ranges from the earliest man-made tools from half a million years ago, Bronze Age material from across Europe, to the Iron Age Arras chariot burials, discovered in the Yorkshire Wolds. The collection also includes Roman and medieval artefacts.

Termas Romanas São Pedro do Sul

This thermal spa («balneum»), in use since the 1st century CE, demonstrates the importance of thermal waters for health and leisure in Roman times. In the 12th century, at the behest of King Afonso Henriques (Afonso I, 1st King of Portugal) some parts of the area were rebuilt, with some Roman ruins believed to have been buried. The S. Pedro do Sul (Viseu) spa continues to operate today.

Magheraghanrush

On the top of a ridge overlooking Colgagh Lough, Co. Sligo this court tomb has an impressive central court 15 metres long, from which 3 two-chambered galleries extend to give the tomb a length of 30 metres. The fine views to be had from this huge tomb are now blocked by insensitive planting of conifer forest, which is to the south of the road from Leckaun to Sligo, which is6.4 kms to the east.

Egryn Abbey, Hengwm, Round Hut Excavated By Ardudwy Early Landscapes Project

A round hut revealed by excavation in 2003 by University of Bangor and Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. It is now over 20 years since the excavation and my photos below show how the grass and shrubs are slowly covering and will eventually hide much of the excavated hut circle. The report also linked below gives detail of the structures investigated.

Ardgroom Stone Circle

Commanding a fine view from its exposed position over Bantry Bay, this fine axial-stone circle has stones similar to the pillar-like slabs of the smaller circle at Drombohilly (Kerry), 9.6km (6mi) NE. In this circle nine stones also survive, with some unfortunately missing: one can be seen in a field fence some distance to the north. They range from 30cm to almost 2m in height.

Pared-y-Cefn-Hir

A well hidden hill fort, way up on a high rocky ridge above the twin lakes Cregennen. At first it seems like there's not very much left of it at all but further along the ridge is the entrance. This consists of a tumbled boulder wall with a wide gap in the middle cutting off access to the fort where the ridge is at its thinnest. Brilliant views down to the Afon Mawddach and across the peak of Cader Idris and its lower siblings.