Spring Equinox 2013

Heath Wood & Foremark Hall, Ingleby

Early start. 10am. I went to Heath Wood near Ingleby. Approaching the wood there were a few stones that could be neolithic or later used by Saxons. Walked round and through the wood but only saw two mounds! Then I walked back on the other side. There was a large area cordoned off with wire fencing. I went inside under the fence, having found the gate later, and saw 4 areas covered with corrugated iron. They were not mounds but probably excavations. I had read an archaeological document to say that one dig concentrated on these four burial mounds. Apparently there are 59 in the wood! They were probably graves of the Viking Great Army 873-8 a.d. and what is interesting is that they had all been cremated. This is currently the only site found in Britain with Viking cremations. They had changed their practice.

Another interesting point is that the wood is quite high and because the leaves have not yet formed on the trees I was able to see the views all around for miles. In the eighteenth century Heath Wood was actually a field. The trees were only planted later, probably by Sir Francis Burdett from nearby Foremark Hall. I personally think he did this to hide an old cemetery that he do not want to view constantly i.e. making the view better.

From there I ventured to my next destination, not far from the entrance to Foremark Hall. I walked across the fields from the road towards the river. As I approached the river I was on the top of a steep slope. I noticed a bridge below and figured if I crossed it I would be able to see the caves easier. So I scrambled down, over the bridge to a field full of swans. Proceeding along this side I eventually came across the caves and I was right. A very good view of them. So I retraced my steps over the bridge and right along the original side. The worn out path eventually led me down to the waters edge. 

The caves were brill, with a lot of graffiti, and yet a sense to me that it could have been an ancient place of worship. Even though in the eigheenth and nineteenth century it had been used by Sir Francis Burdett and he had a door and windows added. The door is not there now. I checked the rods and they constantly crossed everywhere, establishing to myself that this had been a place of worship. The Anchor Church was inhabited by the anchorites who were considered to be religious hermits. The female is called an 'anchoress'. These were women that were bricked in to the side of a church with only a food hole. They were like sages but the ceremony when they were installed often included the last rites because they would stay there until their death. In the Middle Ages the caves were inhabited by a monk called Bernard who died here whilst doing penance for an unknown crime.
Dave