Swan Bank, Caverswall

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Dead Mans Hill

In the civil parish of Caverswall. In the historic county of Staffordshire (Modern Authority of Staffordshire, 1974 county of Staffordshire).

Swan Bank is the remains of an alleged barrow or motte 139ft in diameter and 10ft in height. VCH records as burial mound writing "Excavation made through each direction and at foot - nothing found" Roman pottery has been found in the vicinity. Field survey in 1974 suggests it is more likely to be a Motte. Other side of River Blithe from Caverswall Castle; Is this a precusor? To me this is not a convincing site for a motte and seems to be a large barrow, possibly of Roman date. The site has a local name of Dead Mans Hill and a reputation as a C17 civil war burial site.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ94214303

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 77834
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 00559 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Books
  • Lynam, C., 1908, in Page, Wm. (ed), VCH Staffordshire Vol1 p375