Stoney Littleton Long Barrow

Stoney Littleton Long Barrow stands on a limestone ridge above Wellow Brook in Somerset. Built around 3500 BC, it is a Neolithic chambered tomb with a long trapezoid earth mound covering a stone burial chamber. The site belongs to the Cotswold-Severn Group of tombs and was one of the first ancient monuments protected under the 1882 Ancient Monuments Protection Act. A farmer first opened the tomb in 1760 to take stone for roads, and later excavations in 1816–17 by John Skinner and Richard Hoare uncovered bones of several individuals. The mound was restored in 1858 by Thomas Joliffe and has since been managed by English Heritage. The barrow’s gallery runs 12.8 metres inside, lined with three pairs of side chambers and an end chamber. Its entrance faces the midwinter sunrise, and the roof is made of overlapping stones. A fossil ammonite impression marks the left-hand doorjamb, adding an unusual detail to the structure. Unlike many tombs, this one sits on a slope, giving the impression of sliding down the hillside. The stones used were quarried within an 8-kilometre radius, including Blue Lias and Forest Marble. Visitors reach the barrow via a stile and footpath from a car park at Stoney Littleton Farm. The rectangular grass area around the mound offers views over Wellow Brook and the village below. An information board provided by English Heritage explains the site’s history and significance. The surrounding limestone ridge adds to the atmosphere, making it a quiet place for reflection. The fossil on the doorjamb and the alignment with the midwinter sunrise are details that stand out. The barrow remains in state care, preserved for future generations to see.