Undated windmill mound and possible barrow cemetery, Little Millfield (EHER 726)

The remains of two mounds, one of which is thought to be a windmill mound. The other is of uncertain purpose and date but it has been suggested that it be part of a barrow cemetery.

Mill mound. <1> Two mounds reported to the OS in 1960. First mound 500yds West of the Woolpack Inn, flat topped, c.10ft high x 40ft in diameter across the top. Base diameter is c.70ft. In 1960 it was dug into and disturbed by ploughing. By 1961 the SE half had been almost completely cut away. General appearance suggests a mill mound. In 1976 it was as surveyed in 1961. Mound 2 was c.100yds SE of the former, in the corner of an adjacent field and was virtually ploughed out in 1960. In the 1961 survey it consisted of a much spread mound of yellow clay 0.8m high x 23m NE-SW and 21m NW-SE. By 1976 ploughing had reduced this to 0.3m but visible on APs as a complete ring ditch. OS card has plan of the mounds. <2> <3> <4> <5> February 1961. Field survey. TL 63610022: Dore's Mound 1. The SE half of this once circular mound has been almost completely cut away, but the NW half is entire and in good condition. In this half it is 2m high with a sharp profile and well defined base and, as stated by Dore, a flat top and a diameter of some 20m. It is situated on the top of a hill and its general shape and appearance leave little doubt that this is a windmill mound. TL 63690017: Dore's Mound 2: A much spread mound of yellow clay, 0.8m in height, and measuring 23m NE-SW, and 21m NW-SE. It is situated in a reasonably good position for a barrow and there is a vague suggestion of a ditch, but in its present condition it is impossible to categorise it with any degree of confidence. AM survey carried out. <6> (TL 63610022) Mill Mound (NR) (TL 63690017) Mound (NR) <7> September 1975. Field survey. Mound 1: no change since 28/02/1961. Mound 2: reduced by ploughing to 0.3m high. Visible on air photographs as a complete wide ring ditch. Published 25" survey revised. <8> <9> July 1988. Field survey. Mound 1 is as described by <6>. Several large oaks are growing on it, and the mound is surrounded by ploughed land right up to its base on all sides except the quarried East. No change to published survey. Mound 2 was visible at time of visit as a swelling under ripening crop. The difference in the height of the crop was in the order of 0.2m. No new survey possible due to standing crop, but former depiction reinstated. As the two mounds exist today, mound 1 is definitely a mill mound. No close inspection of mound 2 was possible, but since it is now under plough it was possibly never as substantial as its neighbour which has proved too much of an obstacle to the plough. It may, therefore, be a barrow. If so, it raises the interesting question as to whether mound 1 is a windmill mound raised over an earlier barrow, and whether together the two mounds comprise a small barrow cemetery. <10> 1998. Field survey. Photographed and inspected. First mound described as: a circular mound, c. 1.5m high, c.12m diameter, 200m West of Fryerning churchyard, 20m North of a pond and 2m West of a field track. Timber building beams, brick and iron machinery fragments on surface. Mature trees growing on mound. Second mound described as 100m West of Fryerning churchyard boundary, 20m North of a field boundary ditch, 30m NE of a pond, a circular soilmark c. 15m diameter, raised 0.25m above surrounding field surface. Scatter of natural stones in clay soil. Shows as a cropmark in Spring. <11> <12> First site documented in the Tithe Award as 'Great Millfield' and as 'Millfield' on Fryerning Hall estate map (1748). Mound shown but not a mill on the Tithe map. No mill shown on Chapman and Andre map (1777). Second site in field named as 'Little Millfield' but no mill shown on Tithe map or Chapman and Andre map (1777). <11><13> See also <14>. <5> may be the same as <9>. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.