Looking after Wincobank Hill : Friends of Wincobank Hill
Local residents in Sheffield England and members of a local history group called “Friends of Wincobank Hill” are in protest over proposals to build 22 homes on part of Wincobank Hill, site of a scheduled Iron Age hill Fort and surrounding monuments, as part of Planning Application Reference: 11/03972/FUL
If the proposals go ahead, 22 dwellinghouses and 4 apartments including associated car parking and landscaping will be built on the Roman Ridge part of the hill, an ancient linear earthwork or boundary thought to be Iron Age or early Medieval in date. Previous excavations have so far been unable to date the monument from lack of evidence : See Pastscape : Click Here
Early historians thought the main fort and surrounding earthworks to be Roman in origin. However, it is now thought to have been constructed by the Celtic Brigantes tribe, with some historians suggesting that the fortifications was part of a 1st century defensive line built by the Brigantes attempting to halt the northward advance of the Roman legions.
The Brigantes were a Celtic tribe who in pre-Roman times controlled the largest section of what would become Northern England, and a significant part of the Midlands. Their kingdom is sometimes called Brigantia, and it was centred in what was later known as Yorkshire.
This defensive line is suggested to have included hill forts at Carl Wark and Scholes Coppice, and the ancient dyke of Roman Ridge, running from the fort to Mexborough.
An archaeological survey recently of the site by Dr Gareth Davies, at Archaeological Research Services, concluded there was ‘medium to high potential’ remains may be intact.
But Katrina Hulse, of agents DLP Planning, said “trench surveys had found no historic artefacts.” And that the scheme for developing houses on this monument would “provide ‘much-needed family housing’ identified by the council in its Local Development Plan.
Campaigners were joined by Shiregreen and Brightside Coun Peter Price for a protest at the site, and the opposition has also gained the backing of MP David Blunkett.
Friends of Wincobank Hill are looking for your support!!
Visit their website today! http://wincobankhill.btck.co.uk/SandstoneRoad
If we can stand against the Romans we can defend Wincobank Hill in 2012!
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2 thoughts on “Ancient Iron Age Monument under threat from housing”
Wow that housing development agent is confident with her archaeological knowledge to feel she can disagree with a Doctor of archaeology! We know preciouse little enough about our past, especialy this period of history without midlessly paving over it to make more money for the council… indeed councils should be promoting the excavation and preservation of these rare sites
HF
South Yorkshire Archaeology Service is recommending that a stop be put to all non-commercial archaeological excavations as Museums Sheffield has no funding to engage a Curator of Archaeology. this is a serious blow to the many Heritage Groups in sheffield who have community and educations projects planned. As for Wincobank – well we were looking forward to a community dig with Time Team in all those back gardens you can see from the aerial view but what with one thing or another that seems to be on hold just now.