Leafield Barrow

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Barry Tump

In the civil parish of Leafield. In the historic county of Oxfordshire (Modern Authority of Oxfordshire, 1974 county of Oxfordshire).

The motte measures 38m across and stands up to 4m high. It has a flat, oval summit which measures 19.9m from NW to SE and 12m from SE to NE. A square feature measuring 10.9m across with an internal depression 7.5m square and 0.3m deep is believed to be the remains of a stone keep, similar to that at Ascott d'Oyley. There is no evidence of a ditch around the base of this motte, the E side of which has been disturbed by the construction of a water reservoir. The water reservoir and the ground beneath it are not included in the scheduling. The ordnance datum trig point is excluded from the scheduling as is the reservoir boundary fence; the ground beneath these features, however, is included. Large round barrow about 12' high damaged on E side by water reservoir. C.25m diameter and 4m high. Damaged on E side by water reservoir. No evidence of ditch. Grass-grown and planted with trees, it has the appearance of having been opened. Mound stands in permanent pasture on highest point of low hill. It is egg-shaped with the large end towards the NW and has a flattened and disturbed top. MPP reinterprets mound as motte castle of Norman date. (Oxfordshire HER)
The location, with the village at the foot of the motte, is classic for a motte although the lack of ditch and obscurity of a bailey have clearly made the identification as a motte difficult in the past. The square feature in the centre said to be the possible remains of a stone keep may be the possible remains of a stone footing wall for a timber tower. The site must have some features similar to barrows, given its previous identification, and their is a possibility this was a barrow reused as a motte. The village does not appear in Domesday. It may have been a royal manor associated with the royal hunting forest of Wychwood. If so then presumably the motte represented a royal foresters presence.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SP31611541

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 334669
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 2278 '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.

• Web site links
  • http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3469/leafield_barrow.html [as barrow]
• Books
  • Potts, W., 1907, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Oxfordshire Vol2 p346 [as barrow]
• Journal Articles
  • Mudd, A., 1984, South Midlands Archaeology Vol14 p54 [as round barrow]
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • 04-JAN-1995 Scheduled Monument Notification