Ball Cross.
Location-
Bakewell, Derbyshire.
O.S Grid Reference-
SK227 692.
From the centre of Bakewell take the A619 road towards Baslow but once over the bridge, still in Bakewell, immediately take the turn uphill towards the old railway station. Before reaching the station, a matter of yards, take the minor road over the bridge and follow it through passed the golf course to Ball Cross farm at the top of the narrow road. Just round the corner from the farm is a lay-by, the track you want is on the corner opposite the farm entrance that leads across Calton Pastures. The fort itself lies on private farmland but the ditch and bank of the small fort can be seen from the track.
The defences of the fort date to the Iron Age but this spur of land overlooking the River Wye has a much longer human history than that. It was while excavating the ditch, where the stones of the colllapsed rampart wall that stood atop the low bank lie, that two cup marked rocks from the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age were discovered. The stones are now on display in Sheffield's Weston Park Museum.
Five barrows are to be found strung out along Calton Pastures towards Rowsley one of which, when excavated, revealed a cist also with a cup and ring marked stone. This stone is displayed with in Buxton Museum.
An obviously important place during the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age's this trend continued into the Medieval period. As the Moatless Plantation, a derivative of moot, was a once a meeting place.
Bakewell, Derbyshire.
O.S Grid Reference-
SK227 692.
From the centre of Bakewell take the A619 road towards Baslow but once over the bridge, still in Bakewell, immediately take the turn uphill towards the old railway station. Before reaching the station, a matter of yards, take the minor road over the bridge and follow it through passed the golf course to Ball Cross farm at the top of the narrow road. Just round the corner from the farm is a lay-by, the track you want is on the corner opposite the farm entrance that leads across Calton Pastures. The fort itself lies on private farmland but the ditch and bank of the small fort can be seen from the track.
The defences of the fort date to the Iron Age but this spur of land overlooking the River Wye has a much longer human history than that. It was while excavating the ditch, where the stones of the colllapsed rampart wall that stood atop the low bank lie, that two cup marked rocks from the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age were discovered. The stones are now on display in Sheffield's Weston Park Museum.
Five barrows are to be found strung out along Calton Pastures towards Rowsley one of which, when excavated, revealed a cist also with a cup and ring marked stone. This stone is displayed with in Buxton Museum.
An obviously important place during the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age's this trend continued into the Medieval period. As the Moatless Plantation, a derivative of moot, was a once a meeting place.
Above: General view of the site, the ditch can be made out in the photo's centre.
Below: In the ditch with the bank on the right.
Below: In the ditch with the bank on the right.