Legend:
Easy = an urban site, or a rural site directly by the side of the road.
Moderate = up to 1 Km walk over fairly level ground.
Difficult = up to 1 Km walk over hilly ground, or more than 1 Km walk over fairly level ground.
Very Difficult = more than 1 Km walk over hilly ground, or some scrambling involved.
NB. For sites rated as “Difficult” and “Very Difficult” you are strongly advised to wear proper walking boots and to carry a large scale map and compass, or GPS device.
Asthall Barrow is an important late 6th - early 7th century cremation burial.
The site was excavated by E. T. Leeds of the Ashmolean Museum in 1923 -24. Among the finds was a Merovingian bottle jar (Ashmolean Museum AN1923.769).
The surviving earthwork is currently suffering badly from damage caused by burrowing animals. The Asthall Barrow is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and this damage has been reported to English Heritage, but as yet no policy of protection has been announced. Visitors to the site can help protect it by taking phographs of the current state of damage and sending them to English Heritage.
Access: the barrow sits in a field between the A40 and the B4047. There are steps leading to a style to the south of the barrow. Unfortunately, this means that the access to the site if from the side of the A40. Why no safer access from the north has been provided is a mystery.
The best plan is to leave the A40 at the roundabout, taking the B4047 in the direction of Minster Lovell. Immediately after the roundabout, is a turning on the left which leads to Asthall Manor. It is possible to park here. Cross the B4047 and walk along the grass verge along the side of the A40. Be careful! People travel along here at lunatic speeds! Access to the site is by the steps.
