Montem Mound

The Montem Mound is an ancient earthwork beside Montem Lane, half a mile west of Slough town centre. It overlooks the Chalvey Brook, a small tributary of the River Thames. The mound is recognised as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. For many years its age and purpose were disputed. Some argued it was a Norman motte-and-bailey castle linked to Windsor. Others believed it was a much older moot, a place for public assemblies. The site has long attracted scholarly attention. In 1925 E.O. Gordon suggested in her book Prehistoric London that the mound was a druidic meeting place. From medieval times until 1847 Eton College held an annual festival here called Eton Montem or Salt Hill. Recent excavations by the University of Reading dated the mound to about 1,500 years ago, placing it in the early Anglo-Saxon period. Visitors find a modest grassy mound set in quiet surroundings. The Chalvey Brook runs nearby, adding to the peaceful atmosphere. Interpretive signs explain the site’s history and the various theories about its origins. The mound is easily reached from Montem Lane and offers a quiet spot to reflect on its long past.