Although accessioned as a natural feature by the English Heritage NMR after archaeological examination in the 1950’s; this curious feature in the landscape is worthy of some consideration.
Priests Crown is perhaps notable today due to its inclusion in commercially available Ordnance Survey maps up until the latter half of the 20th Century, titled in the archaic font used to indicate sites of historic interest. There is seemingly no local folklore attached to this site and its elevated status on the maps is lost to us today.
This site is shown today on larger scale maps and digital maps as Priest’s Crown, with the addition of the apostrophe transferring ownership of this crown from many to one.
Perhaps due to people ‘discovering’ this site on the old maps and due to its enigmatic name there has been speculation that this ‘mysterious’ feature may be a prehistoric long cairn. As will be seen in the photograph above, from certain perspectives the outline of the central mound is suggestive of such a shape. However, on further investigation, the feature will be found to be rather assymetrical and perhaps not the familiar trapezoidal shape of a long cairn, with the mound rising above the surrounding landscape slightly, perhaps suggestive of a Priests Tonsure where only the crown of the head is shaved bare.
Further to this, although Priests Crown is located on a prominent ridge of the hill, the feature does not seem to occupy the best position as we might assume a builder to select. In fact the ground can be seen to be sloping fairly steeply.
This site should not be easlily dismissed as the historic map reference indicates some antiquity, and virtually every other prominent landscape feature in the vicinity has been shown to have been significant with clear evidence of occupation or use in antiquity.
If we choose to take the name Priests Crown as a reference to the topographical shape of this feature only, we are free to discard religeous connotations with regard to this site. The NMR classify this feature as a glacial mound, a deposit of rock left by retrating glaciers at the end of the last ice age; of which there are several more prominent local examples.
Examination of the mound where erosion or minor quarrying has exposed the subsurface material reveals an underlying structure of large boulders with no clear regularity that would suggest the familiar stone kerbs associated with prehistoric cairn construction.
Regardless of evidence, there is a strange regularity to the topography of this site perhaps suggestive of a natural feature that has been ‘enhanced’ by rough earthworks. It is also possible that this structure remains from a larger glacial deposit that has been partially removed.
Priests Crown is located on farm land, however the woodland in the background of the photograph has been made accessible to the public. It is difficult to find parking nearby and turning a vehicle round to return down the narrow ‘Coal Pit Road’ can be difficult.
Priests Crown image by munki-boy
Looking at evidence for prehistoric human activity in the West Pennine Moors area.
The highest point for miles and just short of a mountain, Winter Hill is a key part of the West Pennine Moors and a habitat for a huge range of wildlife. With evidence of occupation going back literally thousands of years there is plenty of history on and under the hill. Winter Hill was also the site of a historic mass trespass that gave us open access to much of the moorland today.
A secret reservoir high up on Winter Hill the former Reservoir of Dean Mills is a quiet spot that’s good for a visit on sunny days.
The site of an old coal mine or colliery on the slopes of Winter Hill above Horwich.
The site of a small hamlet and fireclay works high on Winter Hill, once housing families employed in the local quarrying, mining and fireclay industries. Often passed by walkers on their way up the hill, there are a number of interesting industrial remains hidden in the moorland grass.
A series of old Pit Kilns alongside a path across Wildersmoor on the slopes of Winter Hill above Horwich.
A bit awkward to reach but great place for industrial archeaology, geology and fossil finding or just a splash about in the stream.
Ward’s Reservoir or The Blue Lagoon above the village of Belmont has an uncertain future but was one of the best.
An excellent area for walking and wildlife situated around a glacial valley with great scenery and plenty to explore from open moorland to mixed woodland trails.
Burnt Edge is a continuation of the valley of the Dean Brook as it rises to the higher slopes of Winter Hill. Featuring great moorland views out over Bolton and hills of Yorkshire and Derbyshire, together with tons of industrial archaeology.
High on the summit of the often foreboding Noon Hill is a Bronze Age round cairn topped by a more recent cairn of uncertain age. The round cairn was excavated in the 1950’s/60’s and yielded several cremations and funery ornaments now in the possesion of Bolton Museum. This site is rumoured to have been put to use in more recent times as a secret meeting place for persecuted Christians.
