Details

The monument includes a large bell barrow 160m NW of Warren Lodge. The
mound survives to a maximum diameter of 30m and a height of c.3m. It
is surrounded by a well-defined berm and ditch on all sides and an
outer bank to the north and south. The berm has a maximum width of 8m
while the ditch, from which mound material was quarried, survives to a
width of 8m and a depth of up to 1m. The outer bank stands to a height
of 0.5m and has an average width of 5m. The causeway on the NE side of
the site is probably of recent origin.
The site was partially excavated in 1967 although no details are
known. The mound and ditch together have a diameter of 72m.

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

Bell barrows, the most visually impressive form of round barrow, are funerary
monuments dating to the Early and Middle Bronze Age, with most examples
belonging to the period 1500-1100 BC. They occur either in isolation or in
round barrow cemeteries and were constructed as single or multiple mounds
covering burials, often in pits, and surrounded by an enclosure ditch. The
burials are frequently accompanied by weapons, personal ornaments and pottery
and appear to be those of aristocratic individuals, usually men. Bell barrows
(particularly multiple barrows) are rare nationally, with less than 250 known
examples, most of which are in Wessex. Their richness in terms of grave goods
provides evidence for chronological and cultural links amongst early
prehistoric communities over most of southern and eastern England as well as
providing an insight into their beliefs and social organisation. As a
particularly rare form of round barrow, all identified bell barrows would
normally be considered to be of national importance.

The Warren Lodge bell barrow is important as it survives well and,
despite partial excavation of the site, has potential for the recovery
of archaeological and environmental evidence.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Books and journals
Turner, T S, 'Berkshire Field Research Group Bulletin' in Berkshire Field Research Group Bulletin, (1967)

Source: Historic England