Here we have a fine Kentish long barrow set high above the Great Stour and idyllic village of Chilham, the latter also possessing a rather interesting octagonal Norman keep for all you castle-heads out there. Julliberrie's Grave is the most well known of a trio of such monuments clustered around the River Stour (the others to be found at Bodsham and Jackets Field).
Videos at:
Shrub's Wood, Bodsham @ • Neolithic Long Barrow,...
Jackets Field @ • Jackets Field, Challoc...
Anyway...near the junction of the A28/A252 a 'dead-end' road leads across a railway line to access woodland. Here, despite the loss of a former car park (well, it was here 18 years ago, trust me), it is still possible to leave one car beside the waterworks building. Failing that, park in nearby Chilham and walk back across the level crossing. Preferably during the seemingly not very frequent intervals when trains are not trundling past. Careful now.
I follow the path leading across the aforementioned river, past a striking white-timbered building, to an attractive weir, the fast-flowing water (apparently, according to a passing local) the haunt of a kingfisher or two should the traveller chance upon the right moment. The path swings to the left after negotiating a second bridge near a house of attractive red brick, here to ascend to Julliberrie Downs looming above. Trend to the right at the top, the gigantic prehistoric mound not easy to spot for the uninitiated owing to the more-than-copious vegetation.
Yeah, despite it being the depths of winter, the monument is SERIOUSLY overgrown with brambles... and hence not at all obvious. Nevertheless, The Citizen Cairn is able to eventually gain his bearings and make his way along the crest, albeit with much difficulty - not to mention a scrape of sorts - to reminisce upon times gone by perched upon the truncated northern end, the remainder apparently removed by quarrying. Despite the loss, this long barrow is no ploughed-out vestige of its former self, still measuring a substantial 6ft-odd high by 144ft long; nevertheless, excavators found no sign of a primary burial - assuming there was one? - it therefore being a reasonable assumption whoever was interred in the northern end was unceremoniously dumped by the quarrymen? If so, shame on those responsible!!
Back in the day, I reckon Julliberrie's Grave would have been clearly visible from the river down below - perhaps from miles around, even? Nowadays, camouflaged and protected by its ALMOST impenetrable vegetation, it stands mute testimony to the pioneering farmers of Kent working the land millennia before a certain Julius Caesar and his automation goons turned up. Out of sight, however, needn't mean out of mind. Go see it!
Негізгі бет Julliberrie's Grave... a fine Neolithic Long Barrow near Chilham, Kent
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