Display 7 of 8
Tar Barrow and its history (RR79.150GS Cotswold Studies V)
In the Bodleian library is a 1685 account of a scary tale of the opening of one of the Tar barrows on the edge of Cirencester. Two brothers were digging gravel in Colton’s Field, on the edge of one of the barrows when the side of the pit gave way, revealing a dark, gaping hole that the men described as ‘an Entrance into the Belly of the Hill‘. Cautiously the men went inside with a lamp and found several rooms with furniture (which, on being touched, crumbled to dust) and dozens of urns, some with ashes, others full of golden coins. In another room, they saw a man in armour, with a spear in one hand and a lamp burning before it. However as they approached the figure, it moved to attack them, smashing the lamp and the terrified men turned and fled back through the barrow. As they reached the entrance they heard a loud, hollow noise like a groan behind them and immediately the earth fell in all around burying all the treasure. One version of the tale says that only one of the brothers escaped and if you visit Tar Barrows on a full moon and listen quietly you can hear scrabbling and sobs as this brother tries to dig himself out…..
Last reviewed: