H.E.R. record

.kmz file

Overview map

Public access:

The public accessibility of this site is unknown but it should be visible from a public right of way. Please assume that the site is private property. [Information last updated on 17 December 2002]

Details:

Southernmost of the four Priddy circles. Excavations in 1956-9 in the NW quadrant revealed that the bank had a stone core with a ring of post-holes on each side. The posts had been of 8" diameter and about 10ft high with stakes between them, apparently erected prior to the ditch, whose upcast was added to the bank probably leaving the posts projecting at least 4-6ft above the earth top. A causewayed entrance was proved for the circle in the NNE sector. Central area was devoid of any structure and no finds were made. {1}

Belongs to the secondary Neolithic and fall into the Henge group of monuments, class 2. Banks average 1m high and the ditch is 0.4m deep. {4}

Bank at best 7m wide and nearly 2m high, interior area flat and about 1m above the surrounding fields. Divided ownership marked by stone wall running NNW-SSE. Part on the W has never been ploughed but is somewhat cut about by old mine workings. On the S the bank is not well preserved. On the E the interior of the circle has been ploughed at some time but the bank is untouched. Some evidence of the stone construction of the bank is visible at some points. Few thorn and gorse bushes on the E side. {5}

Ploughing of centre and surrounding area but not bank in 1984-5. {6}

The interior of the E part of the circle has been ploughed again this spring. One quite large stone has been disinterred and added to the bank. {7}

Many of the surface depressions in and around the Priddy Circles are natural sinkholes, not mine workings as had been assumed. Unsatisfactory ground conditions (the ground remained liable to subsidence) may have been one of the factors that led to the abandonment of the whole ceremonial site before the circles were completed. {10}

Scheduling revised with new national number on 31.1.1997 (was Somerset 119). {11}

See PRN 90072 for inconclusive geophysical survey and discussion. {12}

The monument is basically stable under pasture but there are areas of scrub, nettle, bracken etc growth on the banks. {13}

See PRNs 24043, 24045, 24046 for the other three Priddy circles. {14}

Management agreement between English Heritage and the owner from 5/3/2004 until 5/3/2007 for part of the monument. {15}

Two photographs in the HER files show a couple of shallow trenches (approx 2m long, 0.5m wide and 0 .3m deep) dug during for the construction of a horse jump in January 1986. No archaeological features or artefacts are apparent. Location is given as ST53955255 {16}

The southernmost of the four Priddy Circles, centred at ST 5395 5255 and described above in was mapped and recorded as part of a survey of aerial photographs and Lidar in the Mendip AONB.

Priddy Circles are thought to be henge monuments dating to the Neolithic and were possibly used for a ceremonial or ritual purpose.

This circle is the southernmost of a group of three, 60m southwest of the next circle to the north (PRN 24043).

The circle measures 192m in diameter. The northern half of the circle is defined by a bank with an external ditch. The southwest quadrant is defined by a single bank and the southeast quadrant is defined by a double bank.

The banks measure up to 9m in width and the ditches measure up to 6m in width.

There are gaps or entrances to the north measuring 19m, the southeast measuring 26m, the south measuring 21m, and the west measuring 36m. These gaps in the circle may have been part of the construction or may have been caused by disturbances to the earthworks. Areas of quarrying or sink holes are located immediately to the west and east of the circle (PRNs 19157and 19114). A quarry pit is located within the gap to the southeast of the circle. {17}

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