Monument record 0029600000 - ABOVE WHITELEAF CROSS

Dimensions - Length 2200cm, Height 182cm, Width 1800cm.
Plan Form - KIDNEY SHAPED
REMAINS OF TUMULUS (B1).
FORECOURT ON E SURROUNDS CIRCULAR DITCH. 2 LOBES OF MOUND SEPARATED BY NARROW NECK: S LOBE WIDER & HIGHER. EXCAVATED (SEE 01:000). VARIANT OF USUAL NEO COLLECTIVE TOMB (B4).
FALSE-CRESTED MOUND WITH TRACES OF DITCH ESP TO N. SHAPE MUCH ALTERED BY SCOTT'S EXCAVS, & SOME DUMPS (B10).
Condition survey 2000 (B12).
Geophysical surveys carried out Bartlett-Clark Consultancy in September 2002 and June 2003 identified a number of anomalies probably associated with the 1930s excavations and part of the main barrow ditch to the east of the mound. See report for detail (B14).



(A: SP 82190408) Tumulus (NR) (B: SP 82210398) Tumulus (NR) (B16).
A kidney-shaped mound, hollow on the E side, and surrounded by a roughly circular ditch, standing on the edge of the false crest, at the top of the steep slope on the W Flank of Whiteleaf Hill, Monks Risborough, almost above Whiteleaf Cross (ie probably 'B') excavated by Sir Lindsay Scott, 1934-9. The chamber, defined by post holes apparently contained a single burial but only a foot, skull fragments and a tooth were found.Scattered throughout the mound were many sherds of Neolithic pottery, (24 lbs, and some 55-60 individual vessels represented), flint flakes and animal bones. Secondary intrusions were a cinerary urn, towards the south end of the barrow, possibly Late Bronze Age although its coarse type ware was in use in Roman times; four 4th century Roman coins and on the W side, fragments of Iron Age 'A' pottery, with fragments of Romano-British wheel ware in close proximity. A Romano-British rubbish pit, dug into the W flank of the N lobe yielded a fragmentary tile, and other small sherds all 3rd or probably 4th century (B2 and B5).
A Neolithic barrow above Whiteleaf Cross, SP 822040, Monks Risborough. (Probably B). At Whiteleaf Hill SP 822041, what appears to be a pond barrow, but a cross-shaped depression may indicate a windmill base. (Probably A). (B17)
'A' SP 82200408. Probable windmill mound (but possibly originally a barrow) with old excavation trenches. In fair condition: pasture covered, 18.0m in diameter, 0.5m in height with remains of a ditch on the N and S sides, 3.0m wide, with a maximum depth of 0.3m. The ditch has been destroyed on the W side by a footpath and on the E side it may have silted up, but if the feature is an original windmill mound, this could be a causeway across the ditch. At the centre, the cross-shaped depression (10.0m across, the arms being 1.5m wide) survives. B SP 82220398. A round barrow, much mutilated by excavations, 22.0m in diameter, 2.0m high, with remains of a ditch, 4.0m wide, and with a maximum depth of 0.2m. There is an old central crater with a tip to the NE overlying the ditch. The 1934-39 excavation trench is cut into the NW side of the mound and has levelled that part of it. On the W, downhill side, the ditch is silted up and unsurveyable. The mound is covered with small bushes. Both features are situated, upon a chalk ridge immediately overlying very steep W-facing slopes. Published 1:2500 survey revised (B17).
A rapid examination of air photography (b21) shows the two mounds: 'A' with cross-shaped depression and 'B' with excavation trench open (B19).
Whiteleaf. SP 822 040 (Probably 'B') Listed by Kinnes as a Neolithic chambered round barrow with a single disarticulated male inhumation, Neolithic pottery, flints and animal remains (B20).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.