Souterrain in Townparks (nethercross By.)

Located on the crest of a ridge with the ground sloping to the N and E, within the front garden of a Rectory. The opening to the souterrain lies within an area of lawn adjacent to a border just 5 m from the front of the Rectory. During tree removal at the site, an opening 0.9m N-S revealed a large void below, partially obscured by three large boulders (0.5 x 0.30m diam.) Topsoil, measuring 0.4-1m in depth, re-deposited soil and plastic covered the upper surface of a beehive structure. It was clear that the area had previously been disturbed and the chamber breached. Access was impossible but photographs taken revealed a beehive chamber floor approx. 2.6 m below the present ground surface. The dome of the beehive is constructed by corbelling with over-sailing rough rubble boulders set in a gravelly mortar. Access to a passage to the NNW is provided via creep-way with another opening from the chamber to the S, partially obscured by collapse. When the adjacent Rectory was being constructed during the 1970's it was re-located to avoid the 'tunnels' found beneath it ( Reverend Robert Deane pers. comm.). Compiled By : Margaret Keane and Christine Baker Uploaded: 6 March 2017