EAST WEST RAIL AND HISTORIC ENGLAND WELCOME HERITAGE PROTECTION FOR BRONZE AGE CEMETERY IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE
- A 4,000-year-old burial ground with 11 ancient barrows has been given heritage protection
- Archaeological investigations have given a rare insight into prehistoric communities and Bronze Age funerary practices
- Historic England and East West Rail are working together to protect and celebrate this site’s heritage ahead of the construction of the new railway
An ancient burial ground at Money Hill in Cambridgeshire has been given heritage protection as a scheduled monument by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has been working alongside Historic England to fully explore and understand this site to ensure that this area is protected during the construction of the new railway. Recent archaeological surveys commissioned by EWR Co and conducted by Wessex Archaeology and Cotswold Archaeology, led to the discovery of additional barrows, bringing the total count from five to 11. The protected area also includes some spaces between the individual barrows where ‘flat burials’ may lie.
Bronze Age cemetery barrows are earthen mounds covering prehistoric burials, that provide extraordinary insight into how our ancestors lived and died. This barrow cemetery represents a significant Bronze Age site with burial mounds varying from 20 to 55 metres in diameter. Advanced geophysical surveys have revealed potential burial pits within some of the ring ditches, while three barrows remain visible as earthwork mounds despite centuries of agricultural activity.
Located on a chalk ridge between Haslingfield and Barrington in Cambridgeshire, the cemetery demonstrates the sophisticated funeral practices of Bronze Age communities. The varied sizes of the individual barrows suggests different approaches to burial rites and indicates that the site was used over many centuries. Round barrow cemeteries are nationally rare, making Money Hill Cemetery particularly valuable for understanding prehistoric communities across England. The site forms part of a multi-period landscape that includes nearby Bronze Age settlements, helping to create a holistic picture of Bronze Age life in Cambridgeshire.
Due to the topography of the land in this area, EWR Co’s proposals have evolved from our original plans to place the railway in a cutting, to a mined tunnel, which with detailed refinements, will now also protect the integrity of this significant site. This heritage protection now means EWR has greater clarity on what our design needs to include and we will continue to consult with Historic England as we develop our designs further.
Tristan Lincoln-Gordon, Head of Environment, EWR Co, said: “We’ve worked closely with Historic England to assess the remains of the Money Hill barrow cemetery, and we welcome its scheduling. Our proposals have evolved through collaboration to ensure this nationally significant site is protected, demonstrating how development and heritage can successfully coexist.”
Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England, said: “The ancient burial grounds of Money Hill in Cambridgeshire demonstrate the importance of our historic landscapes and the stories they tell of our ancestors. The archaeological surveys carried out for East West Rail have given an amazing insight into Bronze Age life and led to the protection of this important site, connecting us with communities from the past as the infrastructure project connects people today. We’ve welcomed the opportunity to work with the team at East West Rail to develop deeper understanding of this historic place as part of our wider engagement on the railway project. The protection of Money Hill is a result of this joined-up approach.”
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Esther Blaine, East of England Public Engagement Manager, at Historic England on 07584 365681 or email [email protected]
East West Rail: [email protected] 0330 134 0053
Images of the site are included with this release. Information on these images is provided below:
- Chapel Hill LiDAR – Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) derived image of Money Hill, showing the low, circular earthworks of two barrows, south of the quarry pit (LiDAR data collected by EWR).
- Chapel Hill Magnetometry results – Interpretative results of terrestrial geophysical survey of Money Hill using a fluxgate gradiometer, showing the outline of five barrows in red (Survey commissioned by EWR and carried out by Wessex Archaeology).
- Drone_Survey2 – Wessex Archaeology, on behalf of EWR, flying a drone equipped with a caesium vapour magnetometer (Survey commissioned by EWR and carried out by Wessex Archaeology. Photograph courtesy of Wessex Archaeology).
For more information on the List Entry for Money Hill Barrow Cemetery click here.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Listing
The National Heritage List for England is held and managed by Historic England on behalf of the Government and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. It identifies the buildings, sites and landscapes which receive special protection, so they can be enjoyed by current and future generations. There are over 400,000 items on the List, covering England's most valued historic places.
There are three grades of listing – Grade II, Grade II*[star] and Grade I.
For further information, see
About Historic England
We are Historic England, the public body that protects and brings life to the heritage that matters to us all, so it lives on and is loved for longer. From the extraordinary to the everyday, our historic places and spaces matter. From community centres to cathedrals, homes to high streets, markets to mills – there are special places we all choose to hold onto, the legacy we want to pass on and the stories we continue to tell. That’s why we work together with people across England to discover, protect and bring new life to our shared historic environment, providing advice, knowledge, support and services. Follow us on social media @HistoricEngland.
About the East West Rail Project
The East West Rail Project is a once in a generation opportunity to connect people and businesses between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge through a new direct rail line. It is a railway with community at its heart that will open up new journeys, cut travel times, and ease congestion on local roads. The route will connect people to the things and places that matter, bringing local benefit and sustainable growth by unlocking the social and economic potential of the area.
The East West Rail Project will be delivered in different phases.
Network Rail was responsible for developing the first part of the first phase between Oxford and Milton Keynes, connecting Oxford with Bicester before the East West Rail Company (EWR co) was set up. Between 2018 and 2024, EWR Co and Network Rail partnered in a construction alliance, East West Rail Alliance, to complete the infrastructure to Bletchley. Chiltern Railways has taken over as the operator of this section and are working to start passenger services as soon as possible.
To deliver the railway onwards from Bletchley to Bedford and Cambridge, a new railway needs to be constructed between Bedford and Cambridge and associated works are needed between Oxford and Bedford to upgrade and refurbish the existing railway infrastructure. EWR Co proposes to make an application to the Secretary of State for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to permit the construction and operation of these works.
About the East West Railway Company
The East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is a non-departmental public body with limited company status set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2017 to deliver the East West Rail (EWR) Project.
EWR Co aims to bring fresh thinking to the Project, challenging the industry status quo, leading to more efficient and cost-effective project delivery and better outcomes for the communities in and around the Project.
The corridor, which runs from Oxford through Milton Keynes and Bedford to Cambridge, is an economic artery that makes the UK a global leader in life sciences, technology and innovation, with the potential to create jobs, drive growth and attract investment for the entire country. EWR Co’s ambition is to unlock the full potential of this region that is vital to keeping the UK globally competitive in a way that considers the environment and offers value for taxpayers.